A REGENCY PAINTED AND GILT BRASS MANTEL CLOCK

A REGENCY PAINTED AND GILT BRASS MANTEL CLOCK

BY THOMAS WEEKS, LONDON, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

with a brass drum eight day movement, the backplate finely engraved with leaves and flowers, the circular enamel dial with Roman and Arabic numerals, signed 'Weeks, Coventry Street, London', the case with an urn surmount, the waisted body decorated with classical medallions

37.2cm high, 17.5cm wide

Provenance

Edward Austen at Godmersham Park. Edward was the brother of Jane Austen and she was a frequent visitor to Godmersham.

The Tritton Collection.

Christie's, Godmersham Park House Sale, 6th-9th June 1983, lot 369.

Purchased by the current vendor from Stair & Company Ltd. 9th April 1984.

Catalogue Note

Thomas Weeks (1743-1834), established his celebrated Museum of Mechanical Curiosities at nos. 3 & 4 Tichborne Street, London, in 1797. The Museum became a place of amusement for sophisticated Londoners, not only was it a private house but also a shop where Weeks displayed a variety of mechanical toys, elaborate temples and contrivances ranging from self playing organs to mechanical spiders. His premises also included an adjoining shop, where it is presumed that pieces such as this clock, signed by Weeks, were offered for sale.