William Payne & Co., No. 1222.

The diminutive Neo-Gothic peaked Rosewood case has ebonized columns to the front corners that support brass inlayed peaks, peaked wooden frets to the sides with ormolu surrounds, a shaped front door also with a matching ormolu surround, is supported by wooded bun feet and is surmounted by a shaped cross.

The Sterling silver engine-turned dial has Roman numerals for the hours, a seconds subsidiary dial, a strike/silent chapter above, an up/down aperture below and finely cut steel hands.

The large eight day time and strike movement has twin fusees, peaked plates that mirror the case, screwed pillars, finely cut wheelwork, a vertically mounted lever escapement with steel escapewheel and fast/slow lever, is wound off the backplate and is signed on the backplate, ‘Payne 163 New Bond St’. It strikes by bell both for hours and half-hours and has the repeat cord out the side.

The case style, often termed ‘Strawberry Hill Gothic’, was popular in the first half of the 19th century and was pioneered by Harace Walpole at Twickenham.

It is extremely unusual to find solid silver dials and would indicate the piece was made for someone of refined taste.

William Payne & Co. is listed working at 163 New Bond Street from 1826-1851.

This clock is listed in an advertisement for Malcolm Gardner in Antiquarian Horology, Winter, 1976, pg. 9.