WILLIAM PLATT, CHESTER. A FINE AND RARE GEORGE III ASTRONOMICAL SOLAR TIME QUARTER CHIMING LONGCASE CLOCK the figured Mahogany case with swan neck pediment and inset eglomise panels above a glazed door flanked by gilt brass-capped reeded columns on a slim trunk with matching reeded quarter columns and moulded edge crossbanded door on a reeded canted base with applied panel raised on ogee bracket feet. The 14" arched brass dial with gilt rococo spandrels and silvered chapter ring surrounding a chequered engraved centre with rolling moonphase aperture, centre seconds and concentric calendar, the arch with subsidiary dial showing a rotating sundial and sliding silvered engraved tablet inscribed 'Tropic of Cancer, Equinoctial Line, Tropic of Capricorn and Ecliptic Line' showing the time of sunrise and sunset throughout the year. The eight-day weight driven movement with extended front plate supporting the complicated drive for the subsidiary dial and deadbeat escapement chiming the quarters on 8 bells and the hour on a larger bell, rare rhomboid steel and brass compensated pendulum.

236cm high