A fine boldly carved George III gilt wood cartel the dial signed John Rayment, Huntingdon circa 1760
38 in. [97 cm.] H
22in. [56 cm] W
6 ½ in. [16.5 cm] D
Surmounted by an eagle perched on its rocky nest, the case is formed from C - scrolls among a wreath of leaves and scrolling foliage. The hinged bezel encloses a silvered dial with roman chapters, arabic minute numerals and pierced scroll hands.
The eight - day time piece movement, has shaped brass plates, knopped pillars, a fusee with wire lines, an anchor escapement with rise and fall adjustment for the spring suspended pendulum and a steel lever planted on the backplate to start the pendulum by means of a cord through the side of the case.
During the same period that French bronziers were creating the ormolu cartel, English carvers produced equally elaborate cartels of gilt wood. Their period of popularity was brief and many were converted to plain circular mahogany dial clocks. This example is a rare survival and the carver remains anonymous.
John Rayment of Norton Bedford, Bedfordshire was apprenticed in 1730. By 1742, he was established in Huntingdon where he took several apprentices and was active to about 1780. |
