271.          $900

Winterhalder & Hofmeier fusee bracket chime, 1905.  A large table clock (26.5 inches tall, 15.75 inches wide and 10.5 inches deep) in quarter-sawn oak with high relief carvings across the front and all around the carved top, surmounted by a carved crest with finials; the finish is old and clean, with some patina.  There are fenestrated side doors with fabric coverings and a beveled glass in the dial door, with a dark plaque at the bottom stating that it was “Presented to the Rev’d Henry Izod-Rogers, M.A., Rector of Cottered, 1895-1905, by his friends and parishioners on his leaving the village after 25 years of residence, as a token of their esteem and friendship, March 1905.”    The brass and silvered dial with gilt brass filagree spandrels is signed by the retailer John Walker Ltd., presumably in London; there are pierced elaborate hands and dials at the top to adjust the rate, strike or silent (striking on a large coiled cathedral gong), and chimes on eight nickel bells or four coiled gongs.  The dial shows light wear.  The back door has a metal screen with fabric on the inside; all fabrics look original, and there is a key to open it in place.  I believe it plays Whittington chimes on 8 bells, or Westminster chimes on 4 coiled gongs.  The large brass, 3-train fusee movement is clean and has the W&H logo at the bottom of the back plate.  It is running, striking the hours, and chiming on the quarter hours as expected, all with rich tones, bells or gongs.  There is a large winding key.  Fontaine’s sold a similar example in 2022 for $1400.  $900-$1800.