A small English oak hood clock by Marsh Eastry, circa 1750
Description
13.8-cm arched brass dial with foliate engraved centre, engraved silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals, single hour hand and silvered alarm disc, mask spandrels, rococo spandrels in the arch flanking the signature plaque signed Marsh Eastry, 30-hour weight driven movement with anchor escapement and alarm on a bell, oak case with rectangular hood, back board with ogee shaped brackets.
This lovely small wall timepiece was probably made for a rich farmer or servants quarters in a grand mansion. It showed the time and its alarm could wake the user up for maybe milking the cows or lighting the fire. It seems relatively simple but when looking closer, the detailed engraving shows the quality of the workmanship that has gone into it. It gives proof of the fact that in earlier times attention to detail was very important also in provincial England. This timepiece keeps good time and with its small proportions it should be easy to find a place in an interior.