This is a distinguished orange/red eight day time and strike longcase clock. The case is decorated with brown and gilt chinoiserie designs to the trunk, base, hood and sides. This is a second period lacquer clock c1778, the first lacquer period being at the beginning of the 18th century.

The hood has a caddy top with ball and spike brass finials on chimneys either side of the hood, blind frets above the hood door with integral three quarter columns to the door and having three quarter brass caps and bases to the columns. The columns are decorated with gilt and red floral designs. The trunk door retains its original brass escutcheon and original hinges. The case is of an oak construction.

This clock has a magnificent 12” arched brass dial with automata to the arch. Automata is quite unique in London made longcase clocks, however, Ansell relocated to Abingdon in Berkshire (considered provincial) soon after completing this clock. It could be that the clock was started in London and completed in Abingdon.

The dial has a silvered chapter ring with Roman chapters and Arabic minute numbers outside of the minute ring and an inner quarters circle. The inner quarters circle was used during the early part of the 18th century for those who could not yet read minutes. This feature is a carry over from the earlier one handed clocks which only had an inner quarters circle and no outer minute band.
The gilt corner spandrels are of the urn form with dolphin spandrels to the arch flanking a silvered ring engraved Tempus Fugit (Time Flies) surrounding the “bird” automata. The dial has a subsidiary seconds dial and a square aperture date dial above the VI marker. The dial is signed Thos Ansell, London on a silvered mount below the center and winding arbors. The arch incorporates a very rare and unusual form of automata, a hunting bird with outstretched wings rocking to and frow in front of a painted country scene of a tree and flying birds. The hands are blued steel and are of the non matching form which was typical before about 1780.

The well made brass plated movement is weight driven with gut lines and a long seconds beating pendulum. Anchor recoil escapement and rack striking to a top mounted bell. The plate pillars are nicely decorated with rings, the wheel collets have extended squared off corners.

Thomas Ansell is recorded in Baillie and Britten’s. Britten’s Old Clocks & Watches and their Makers (Ninth Edition) records Ansell as relocating from London to the High Street in Abingdon, a small town in Berkshire, six miles south west of the City of Oxford in England, in 1780. He worked in Abingdon from 1780 until 1810. Ansell is listed as a watch and clock maker. He was also working in London before his move to Abingdon.

Restoration: The bell has been replaced, but is a good quality sympathetic replacement. It would appear that the case decoration was nicely revitalized during Victorian times. Some areas behind the hood door and the feet have been repainted in matt black in more recent times.

The clock stands 95 ½” tall and is 20” wide at the base.