A highly important 18th century ormolu mounted white marble and Derby biscuit porcelain Astronomy clock by the Royal clockmaker to George III Benjamin Vulliamy

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A highly important 18th century ormolu mounted white marble and Derby biscuit porcelain Astronomy clock by the Royal clockmaker to George III Benjamin Vulliamy
A highly important 18th century ormolu mounted white marble and Derby biscuit porcelain Astronomy clock by the Royal clockmaker to George III Benjamin Vulliamy ( England 1785 )

Dimensions

79.00cm wide 48.00cm high 28.00cm deep (31.10 inches wide  18.90 inches high  11.02 inches deep)

Description / Expertise

This very rare clock of outstanding quality is set on a stepped semi-elliptical plinth centred by a fluted white marble column mounted with a circular enamel dial with Roman numerals within a beaded bezel, raised on a square pedestal and signed ‘Design’d by B.Vulliamy, London 1785’, flanked on the left by a large figure of a winged Genius beside a superbly chased inverted ormolu Corinthian capital, emblematic of enlightenment, supporting two small books with a scroll reading ‘Design’d and Executed by B. VULLIAMY Clock and Watch Maker to His MAJESTY’. On the right a seated figure of Urania holding an armillary sphere with its ormolu stand headed by three satyr masques and terminating in hoof feet with a large astronomical telescope behind - at the front a putti holding a sextant in his left hand. The marble inscribed twice with the monogram “ID”. This is almost certainly the mark of the statuary and marble mason, J. Day of Brewers Row, Westminster, who was Vulliamy’s main supplier of marble for his clockcases. Only five clocks of this design are known, two of which are in the Royal Collection.