Very Rare Large Gothic Revival Charles Frodsham Clock Maker to Queen Victoria

View Similar Items

Rare & Large Antique Hand Carved Gothic Revival Wall Clock w. Lenzkirch Movement

Gothic Revival Gilt Mantel Clock

Fine Two-Day Marine Chronometer Signed Charles Frodsham

Rare Antique Gothic Revival Gilt Bronze Wall Cartel Clock with Griffin Sculpture

Unique Gothic Revival Gilt Bronze Mantle or Desk Clock w Rare Porcelain Plaques

Antique Gothic Revival Porcelain Clock by Dagoty & Honoré

A Large Gothic Revival Carved Oak Barometer with a Rare Snail Tail Thermometer

Unique, Large and Hand Carved Gothic Revival Carillon Sound Wall Clock, ca 1900

20th Century Italian Gothic revival Silver Table Clock

Early 1900s Gothic Revival Gilt Table Clock w. Christ Holding Lamb Sculpture

Gilt Bronze & Alabaster Gothic Revival Mantel Clock with Crusade Theme Sculpture

English Gothic Fusee Clock

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 19

Very Rare Large Gothic Revival Charles Frodsham Clock Maker to Queen Victoria

About the Item

We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and very rare original Charles Frodsham clock maker to the Queen Gothic Revival walnut bracket clock A very good looking and well made clock by one of the greatest clock makers in England’s history. This piece is sold walnut, beautifully carved in the Gothic Revival manor, the top has a very angelic face, it could be Jesus or perhaps a monk, either way he looks wise and religious The case has been cleaned waxed and polished, the keys work the locks however the lock to the glass case is temperamental and I would advise leaving it alone Dimensions: Height 51.2cm Width 33cm Depth 20cm Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point Charles Frodsham (15 April 1810 – 11 January 1871) was a distinguished English horologist, establishing the firm of Charles Frodsham & Co, which remains in existence as the longest continuously trading firm of chronometer manufacturers in the world. In January 2018, the firm launched a new chronometer wristwatch, after sixteen years in development. It is the first watch to use the George Daniels double-impulse escapement. Early history Frodsham was educated at the Bluecoat School, Newgate, London and then apprenticed to his father William James Frodsham FRS, a respected chronometer maker and co-founder of Parkinson & Frodsham. Charles showed early promise with two chronometers submitted to the 1830 Premium Trials at Greenwich, one of which was awarded 2nd prize. Nine further chronometers by Charles were entered to the Premium trials until they ceased in 1836 Established in business Soon after marrying Elizabeth Mill (1813–1879), Frodsham founded his own business at No. 7 Finsbury Pavement.[5] He rapidly established himself as a leading London chronometer maker. With the death of another major chronometer maker, John Roger Arnold (son of the eminent John Arnold), Charles acquired the Arnold business in 1843, moving his family and business address to 84 Strand, London.[6] Trading as ‘Arnold & Frodsham, Chronometer Makers’ continued till 1858. Technical brilliance Charles Frodsham was a prolific and highly regarded horological writer, publishing numerous articles on the discipline. He corresponded with George Biddell Airy, Astronomer Royal, over many years, much of which correspondence is preserved at Cambridge University Library, covering topics such as middle temperature error, quick trains as advocated by Thomas Earnshaw, Greenwich Mean Time and Airy’s remontoire. In 1871, Frodsham published The History of the Marine Chronometer, the first English language treatment of the subject Exhibitions, awards & medals Frodsham was awarded the Telford Gold Medal from the Institution of Civil Engineers for his 1847 lecture on the laws of isochronism. At the Great Exhibition in 1851, he was awarded a first-class medal for his timekeepers. The firm won fourteen further medals and honours at the major international exhibitions over the rest of the nineteenth century. At the 1862 International Exhibition, Frodsham not only exhibited but was also one of the jurors, writing the detailed horological section report Successor to Vulliamy Regulator dial, showing succession to Arnold and Vulliamy businesses Title page of Charles Frodsham's catalogue of the clocks at Buckingham Palace, April 1854 On the death of Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy (1780–1854), Frodsham purchased the goodwill of the Vulliamy business, and on the recommendation of Airy succeeded Vulliamy as ‘Superintendent and Keeper of Her Majesty’s Clocks at Buckingham Palace’ cementing the firm’s position as leading international clockmakers Horological societies Frodsham was a founding member, and later Vice President, of the British Horological Institute, and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, in which he served as Master in 1855 and 1862 Legacy and succession Frodsham died of liver disease in 1871, and was buried at Highgate Cemetery, London. His obituary stated that ‘during a long and honourable career, he distinguished himself by his devotion to the science of horology, which he greatly advanced, and his clever works upon the subject are regarded as authoritative by members of the trade. Charles’ son Harrison Mill Frodsham (1849–1922) took over the firm, following in his father’s footsteps by publishing his own theoretical horological material, including an important series of articles entitled ‘Some materials for a Resume of Remontoires’.The firm continued to supply marine chronometers to the Greenwich trials, achieving significant success. Between 1831 and 1920, the Admiralty purchased sixty Charles Frodsham marine chronometers, and a number of pocket chronometers and deck watches, most notably a watch used by Ruth Belville, the Greenwich Time Lady, now in the Lord Harris collection at Belmont. Precision timekeeping In the second half of the 19th century, the firm provided sidereal regulators for new observatories being established worldwide, notably in Australia at Sydney and Melbourne; in Italy at Padua, Palermo and Naples; and in the USA at Harvard and Lick. Charles Frodsham tourbillon no. 09182, now at Belmont which holds the record for the highest marks for an English watch gained at the Kew Observatory. Sidereal regulator now on display at the Norman Lockyer Observatory, originally installed at the Solar Physics Observatory in South Kensington. In addition to the production of standard high-grade pocket watches and domestic clocks, the firm specialised in complicated timepieces, including Tourbillon and Karrusel watches, many of which were submitted for observatory testing, frequently scoring highly. Charles Frodsham tourbillon No. 09182 (now in the Lord Harris collection at Belmont) with marks of 93.9, holds the record for the highest score ever achieved by an English watch tested at the Kew Observatory. Such watches were inscribed with the letters AD. Fmsz. This cryptogram for the year Anno Domini 1850 is formed by the numerical sequence of the letters in ‘Frodsham’, with the addition of Z for zero, and was used from that date on by the firm to indicate first quality. This item is available for collection from our Wimbledon warehouses Condition: Please view the very detailed pictures as they form part of the description around condition Please note vintage period and original items such as leather seating will always have natural patina in the form of cracking creasing and wear, we recommend regular waxing to ensure no moisture is lost, also hand dyed leather is not recommended to sit in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time as it will dry out and fade.

Creator:
Charles Frodsham (Clockmaker)
Dimensions:
Height: 20.16 in (51.2 cm)Width: 13 in (33 cm)Depth: 7.88 in (20 cm)
Style:
Gothic Revival (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Walnut,Hand-Crafted
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
Mid-19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Mid-19th Century
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
Seller Location:
GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2823317984562