This is an exceptional flame mahogany case of excellent proportions featuring well chosen veneers. The typical mahogany 'flying saucer' finial centred broken arch pediment with blue and gilt verre eglomise panels under. Breakarch side windows to hood, full 'floating' fluted hood columns with matching hood rear half columns and matching trunk quarter columns.

Long trunk door with shaped top and choice book matched veneers producing a "fountain" effect, repeated in the raised, scallop cornered, base panel. Typical "Liverpool" canted corner base and shallow ogee bracket feet.

Unusually, there is a central block fixed on the back board inside the case, bearing a short vertical spike ( pointing upwards ) corresponding to the lowest part of the pendulum. Linked to this is a beautifully hand written note which reads - "When you set up this clock take care the center at bottom of pendulum hang right over that fixed below then it will beat true & I hope recommend your friend ( signed ) Isaac Hadwen N.B. The wight marked W is for the going part to make it go faster screw up the pendulum ball & to make it go slower lower it down." The smaller of the two weights weighs 9 pounds, is marked W and the larger, unmarked weight, for the strike side, weighs 10.5 pounds.

13" breakarch brass dial with 'cloudy starry sky' moonphases to arch.Large, cast brass, cherubs head spandrels flanking the silvered chapter ring and very finely matted and engraved dial centre. Blued cut steel hands with delicately cut and counterbalanced sweep seconds hand.

Especially well executed, 8 day, 4 pillar, movement with hourly ( rack ) striking, centre sweep seconds and deadbeat escapement.

Isaac Hadwen of Liverpool. This will be Isaac Hadwen II ( Isaac Hadwen junior ) who is recorded "Born 1723 - died 1767." The business was carried on by his widow Hannah until 1777 when Isaac III took over. There is a very fine clock by this maker ( though without the refinements of a deadbeat, centre sweep seconds, escapement ) illustrated in "Clockmakers of Northern England" by Brian Loomes.That example has a very similar dial layout and is reckoned to be circa 1760.