The first English bracket clocks were made circa 1660 and are world renowned for their exceptional quality. The term ‘Bracket Clock’ is a wide reaching one, covering the gamut of spring driven table clocks with short pendulums. Many clockmakers produced both bracket and longcase clocks and, as a result, aesthetic and technical developments took place in parallel. There was little variation in early movements, all originally had a verge escapement, most strike the hours on a bell and repeat the last hour struck, and often the quarters, when a chord attached to the movement is pulled. Later bracket clocks featured elaborate musical trains and automata in the arch.

That standards of finish and design are so high on English bracket clocks is due to the division of labour that took place in late seventeenth and early eighteenth century London, the stringent quality controls exercised by the Clockmakers Company and the long apprenticeship system.

Given the dedication to quality, clockmakers would commonly focus their energies on perfecting clock design and then divide the work amongst the most suitable craftsmen. So, for example, the production of springs and the fusee (which maintains even distribution of power) would be apportioned to one craftsman whilst engraving of the dial and the making of hands would be apportioned to another. The cases were bought in bespoke from specialist case makers.

When orchestrated by the very best makers this division of labour would produce bracket clocks of exceptional quality, equally renowned as works of art as well as for their accuracy and mechanical complexity. Indeed, that so many fine early bracket clocks are still with us is a testament to the quality of workmanship and the prescience of the clockmakers.

Stylistically changes in bracket clocks followed a clear trajectory; the first generation of bracket clocks had architectural ebonised cases and movements with countwheel strike. The earliest cases were veneered in walnut, olivewood and most commonly ebony. By around 1740 Mahogany was being imported from the West Indies and Central America, becoming increasingly popular over the following hundred years. Lacquer cases from between 1740-1780 are often very fine and sought after.

Raffety and Walwyn specialise in English bracket clocks and we have a number of exceptional examples in our collection which you can view below.