James Cole Furniture

An exceptional English fusee carriage clock timepeice by two of the nineteenth centuries greatest clock makers. The eight day single chain fusee movement with maintaining power and jewelled underslung English lever escapement, the back plate numbered 151. The movement is housed in a unique gilt case with unusual faceted feet and finials surmounted by a sprung cruciform finial. The case is undoubtedly the work of Thomas Cole the engraved panels depicting scenes from Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley novels, the figures contrasted with Cole’s unique horizontally lined background technique. The layered plate construction of the case with concave faceted columns is also typical the brothers’ period of collaboration. The silver engine turned dial with breguet style moon hands suggest the work of J.F. Cole as does the distinctive bridge on the back of the movement that gives extra strength to the mainspring and is documented in several other Cole clocks. We believe this clock is unique the finial and key are a distinctive cross shape, the finial is ingeniously sprung so that if knocked it will not snap but yield and spring back into place (see video). The Cole Brothers worked together supplying clocks to other retails after J.F. Cole narrowly avoided bankruptcy, their work was retailed by Garrards, James McCabe, Arnold and...