CASE DETAILS
Typical 'Liverpool,' late 18C, high quality flame mahogany case with characteristic 'flying saucer,' finials, red 'silk' backed pierced frets and cast brass flower head paterae to swan neck pediment. Fluted 'flying' hood columns with matching trunk quarter columns.
Book matched veneers carefully chosen to create a fountain effect to the shaped top trunk door and panelled base. Typical canted corners to shaped plinth base.
DIAL DETAILS
13" breakarch early 'Wilson' painted dial having moon phases to arch and marked Edward Birtles Liverpool High Water at Perch Rock.Centre sweep date indicator, subsidiary seconds dial early gilt scrolling spandrels with decorated blue centres.
N.B. Wilson Birmingham dialmaker recorded 1780 c' 1808.Dial alone cost £1-2s-0 for a 13" example with moonphases to arch. The non moon option cost 16s at the time. Blued cut steel hands.
MOVEMENT DETAILS
Good quality, 4 knopped pillar, 8 day movement with hourly ( rack ) striking.Centre sweep date.
MAKER DETAILS
Edward Birtles ( also spelt Bertles ) of Liverpool recorded 1777 - 96. Died 1797.
DATE - Circa 1785.
HEIGHT - 96" ( 244 cms. ) or 91.5" ( 232.5 cms. ) ex. finials.