Haley & Son, George III Ebonized Bracket Clock

London, late 18th century, engraved silvered dial signed "Haley & Son / London" with Arabic and Roman chapters, decorated with ornate ormolu relief spandrels, and upper lunette with subsidiary silent and strike dial, five pillar twin fusee movement with verge escapement striking on an apical bell, with short pendulum, the backplate engraved with Chinoiserie pergola and scrolled motifs, within an ebonized wood case, glazed on all sides, chamfered and reeded stiles beneath a cove molded and domed top with brass urn finials, atop a molded base and brass bracket feet.

15 1/2 x 9 x 6 1/2 in.

From the Collection of Josephine Chapman Borthwick, Pinehurst, North Carolina

The verso with later typed provenance statement:
LONDON / 1775-1800/ "Chas. Haley, Maker, / celebrated in his time." / (Fr. J.E. Caldwell & Co.) / Bequeathed to Dr. Chas. D. Meigs / by Mrs. Kohn, the widow of a Charleston / merchant, who lived opposite to #224, / now 1006, Chestnut St. Phila., Dr. Meigs / house. Her husband bequeathed the house / to her for life, provided she lived / there 1, month in each year. During her / absences, slaves left in charge "lived / high, had balls etc." Mrs. Kohn also / bequeathed to him her household linen / and wine, but the former was worn out, / and the wine had been drunk. / The above was received from my / mother Mrs. J. Williams Biddle, and / my uncle S. Emlen Meigs Esq. The clock / was inherited by Franklin B. Meigs Esq. / Dr. Meigs's youngest son, and from him / by my mother, coming to me at my mother's / death in the year 1905, / [signature of E--- W. Biddel]

Charles Haley, a famous and inventive clock and chronometer maker, was apprenticed in 1762 and worked for Brockbank. He was Free of the Clockmakers' Company from 1781 until his death in 1823 and had premises in Wigmore Street, Cavendish Square. In 1793 he was appointed to be one of the experts to the select sub-committee of the House of Commons to report on Thomas Mudge's chronometers.

Bio courtesy of Sotheby's.

Some rubbing to the black painted finish; some veneer repairs to upper case; movement operating at time of evaluation. Please see Terms and Conditions of Sale: Clocks and Watches.