French, Royal Exchange, London.

A small Victorian Quarter-Striking mantle clock by French, London. The ebonized case has decorative gilt mounts and a hinged handle. The exceptional three train movement has a balance platform, quarter striking on 8 bells, hour strike on a gong, an auxiliary alarm unit that strikes on a bell and is signed by the maker on the backplate. The engraved gilt dial has calendar chapters to the lower corners, a strike silent chapter and a soft/load indicator hand. It is signed on the dial by French and has fine steel-cut hands.

It was originally the property of The Shuttleworth Charitable Trust at Old Warden Park and subsequently was in 2 private collections.

Sold in Christies, London, June 30, 1993, lot 249 where it brought 17,250 GBP. ($ 27,000.)