A rare miniature English Victorian brass skeleton clock, Fenton Bury, circa 1850.

Description

Skeleton clocks

At the end of the first quarter of the 19th century, the English started making skeleton clocks. Initially the production wasn’t very large but from the middle of the century the production increased significantly. The often elegant clocks with their exposed movements must have appealed to many through their combination of design and technique, especially in an age when industrialisation was advancing rapidly. Therefore it is not uncommon to come across an English skeleton clock. But I was amazed to find one with such tiny proportions, with even the chapter ring and frame made in the right proportions. The icing on the cake is the fact that it is actually signed which makes it perfect. A lovely small and extremely rare clock that will fit into any clock collection or cabinet of rare objects.

Chapter ring

The 5.1-cm diameter engraved and silvered chapter ring has Roman numerals. The ‘spade hands’ are made of blued steel.

Verge escapement

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The movement is driven by a spring barrel with fusee and chain and is of one-day duration. It is regulated by a verge escapement in combination with a plain iron balance.

Fenton Bury

The brass frame is shaped like an inverted Y with curled ends. It stands on an oval brass base signed Fenton Bury. The whole is placed under a glass dome on a wooden base with flat round brass feet.