A FINE REGENCY GILT BRASS MOUNTED MINIATURE BRACKET TIMEPIECE Yonge and Son, London, circa 1825 The four pillar single fusee movement with arched plates measuring 4.5 by 3 inches and anchor escapement regulated by lenticular bob pendulum, the frontplate stamped T&R, 7190 to the lower margin and the rear with crisp geometric engraved border and pendulum holdfast, the 3.25 inch circular convex white enamel Roman numeral dial inscribed YONGE & SON, STRAND, LONDON to centre, with blued steel spade hands set behind hinged engine-milled convex glazed bezel, the break-arch case with sculpted gilt brass hinged pendant loop type carrying handle and shallow radial gadroon-carved curved panel to the top over delicate crisply moulded cavetto cornice and inset gilt canted angles flanking the dial over figured veneer, the sides with further fine flame figured veneers and the rear with arch-glazed door, on moulded skirt base with generous gilt brass bun feet. 24cm (9.25ins) high, 14.5cm (5.25ins) wide, 10.5cm (4.125ins) deep. George Yonge and Son are recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World as Clockmakers to the Lord High Admiral working circa 1820-5; George Yonge senior succeeded the celebrated John Holmes. The business traded as George Yonge and Son 1823-30 before becoming George and Walter Yonge who continued trading from various addresses in The Strand until at least 1856. The stamped 'T & R' to the frontplate of the movement of the current lot indicates that the mechanism was supplied to Yonge and Son by Thwaites and Reed. John Thwaites was the son of Ainsworth Thwaites who was apprenticed in 1735 and worked from Rosoman Row, Clerkenwell, London 1751-80. He was an accomplished maker who supplied the clock for the tower at the Horse Guards Parade. John Thwaites was born in 1757 and took over the business presumably on the death of his father in 1780 before moving to Bowling Green Lane. In 1808 John Thwaites entered into partnership with George Jeremiah Reed which continued under John Thwaite's leadership from several addresses in London until his death in 1842. The business subsequently passed through a series of successors and is still trading today from Rottingdean near Brighton. John Thwaites, both whilst working alone or in partnership with George Reed, became well known for supplying all forms of clocks and movements either wholesale for others to retail, or signed by him/themselves. Approximate dates of manufacture for clocks by Thwaites can be obtained from a list published in Rose, Ronald E. ENGLISH DIAL CLOCKS, (as Appendix III, page 239). From this list a date of around 1825 is suggested for the current lot. Condition Report: The movement is in fine original working condition with no visible evidence of alteration or significant replacements. The dial presents as being in very fine condition however it has most likely been very well restores with the only noticeable blemishes being some minute wear around the winding hole and some very slight blemishes/indentations to the circumference where the surface of the enamel butt-up with the gilt brass bezel surround. The case is in very good original condition with finely figured veneers of rich colour and good strong gilding to the mounts. The rear door has noticeable chipping and losses to the veneer overlap to the left hand vertical edge and a lesser chip above the upper hinge. The front is missing a very small piece of cornice moulding to the left of the base of the arch otherwise faults are very much limited to small bumps, scuffs and veneer shrinkage commensurate with age. The top handle has some very light gilt wear. Timepiece is complete with pendulum, winder and case key. Condition Report Disclaimer