Maker – Thomas Cole, London, # 1315.

Retailer – T. Cooke and Sons, York.

A beatifully engraved desk strut timepiece by Thomas Cole for the eminent firm of T. Cooke & Sons, York.

The elaborately engraved case is formed from built up layers, has a strut at the back, a pendant top and a swing stand below. It is numbered on the bottom 1315. The bottom has the manual date change while the back has a shutter to access the escapement and the original hinged winding handle.

The silvered dial has floral engraving with a linear ground, Roman numerals for the hours, steel fleur-de-lis hands, a monthly calendar below with Sundays in red, and the retailers name, T. Cooke and Sons, York.

The eight-day fusee movement has a balance platform with a lever escapement and is stamped Thos Cole, London.

Cole was awarded a medal for his display at the London International, 1862; Charles Frodsham, in the official exhibition report described Cole’s work in glowing terms, noting “nothing could exceed the beauty of design and good taste of the varied models and general excellence of workmanship”. Cole’s work made such an impact that other London makers, notably E. White and W. Vasel tried to copy him but never surpassed the quality of his craftsmanship.

Thomas Cooke was an eminant clock and instrument maker in York,