A very small, neat, compact, well proportioned, flat top, long door, rare olive green chinoiserie case depicting oriental figures. Very decorative. Cute size. N.B. The colour is basically olive green but has faded over time in some areas more than others leaving very pleasing warm tonal variations - not captured by the camera. The colour as portrayed on the website, appears darker than it really is. A very pretty "gem" of a clock.

12" breakarch brass dial with "starry sky" moonphases to wheatear engraved arch, engraved moon "humps," cast brass urn spandrels, subsidiary seconds dial and conventional datebox above the 6 o'clock position. Signed Benjamin Cotton Hurley to "rainbow" below the finely matted dial centre. Blued, cut steel hands.

Good quality, 4 pillar, 8 day movement with hourly ( rack ) striking and tee shaped frontplate to accommodate the moonwork.

Benjamin Cotton of Hurley - also seen spelt Horley, ( Bucks ) is recorded "mid 18C, thence to Marlow ( also in Bucks. ) where died in 1763". He is buried in Great Marlow churchyard, probably unmarried ( or a widower ) as he left everything to his sister, Mary Cotton. The interesting part is that rather than sign his will ( dated 19th November 1763 ) he made his mark, which is extremely unusual as most clockmakers were literate - although he may just have been incapacitated, which seems more likely.

We know that Benjamin Cotton moved from Hurley/Horley to Great Marlow mid 18C so clocks signed Hurley or Horley must therefore pre date that move