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GORHAM, MAKER to the QUEEN, KENSINGTON. A VERY FINE
ROSEWOOD CARRIAGE CLOCK BY THIS EMINENT MAKER. CIRCA 1835.
This beautiful two train clock, by one of the finest 19th century makers, is highly unusual in having a chain fusee for the time train and a standing barrel for the alarm, both being wound through the dial in symetrical positions opposite 3 and 9 o’clock. The lever escapement, mounted on a platform between the top of the plates, is particularly well executed and may be seen through the bevelled top glass. Bevelled glass is also used to either side and plain glass, to avoid distortion of the dial, to the front and also the rear. The carrying handle on top has an octagonal central bar with scrolling foliate supports on either side.
The engraved and silvered dial, with silvered bezel surrounding it, has centre-sweep minute, hour and alarm hands with Roman numerals and an outer minute ring. Both the dial and backplate bear the maker’s signature and the alarm is sounded on a gong.
This is a rare and particularly desirable clock.
Height excluding handle : 9" ( 23 cms.)
Dial size excluding bezel : 4" ( 10.2 cms.)
James Gorham ( 1815 - 42 ) was a particularly talented and ingenious maker. Not only was he clockmaker to the Queen with work of his still remaining in the Royal Collection, he was also clockmaker to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex who, during the 19th century, amassed probably the finest collection of clocks in the country and was Queen Victoria’s uncle.
Gorham is probably best known for the remarkable group of three skeletonised clocks, each incorporating two globes, one celestial and the other terrestrial, two of which are illustrated and described in ‘British Skeleton Clocks’ by Derek Roberts, pages 242 & 243. One of these recently changed hands in Christie’s for over £300,000.
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