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JAMES CALVER, DISS. A GOOD BLACK LACQUER TAVERN CLOCK WITH A PARTICULARLY INTERESTING MOVEMENT. CIRCA 1795.
The white dial, some 28" in diameter overall, has Roman hour and Arabic minute numerals. There are brass spade hands with the minute counter balanced. Immediately below the dial is the maker' s signature with 'ears' on either side. The trunk door, made of oak like most of the rest of the case, has raised gilt decoration laid on a black ground, which features birds, people and trees; it is surrounded by gilt and silver lines. The sides of the case have bold floral decoration. The base of the case steps in to the wall in a series of scrolls.
The substantial movement is full of character and, unlike any other tavern movement we have encountered before, with it' s stepped plates. A most unusual feature is, that to obtain the maximum fall of the weight, it is wound up through the seatboard towards the top of the case where a pulley is employed to lead the line on to the barrel.
Length : 55" ( 140 cms.)
James Calver was apprenticed to William Crisp of Wrentham in Suffolk in 1772 and married Rebecca Taylor of Framlingham some eight years later. He died in 1809.
For further information on this maker and the Calver family, see 'Norfolk & Norwich Clockmakers' by Clifford & Yvonne Bird.
This clock is recorded in ‘The Tavern Clock’ by Martin Gatto, page 206.
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