Eight-day Nelson commemorative mahogany longcase clock

An eight-day Nelson commemorative mahogany longcase clock by Felmingham, Bungay, circa 1810.

The weight-driven movement has rectangular brass plates which are united by four knopped pillars. The going train has an anchor escapement and seconds beating pendulum and the hour-striking train employs a rack system with snail mounted to the hour wheel. All wheels within the plates have four curved crossings.

The twelve inch break arched dial has upright Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds dial and is signed below the downturned calendar lunette. The corners are decorated with anchors on seaweed within a pink and gilt border. The arch contains a naively painted scene depicting Nelson on 'Victory' supported by three officers following the fatal shot by the French sniper at the Battle of Trafalgar. The dial is mounted via an iron falseplate which is signed B. Wright, Birmingham.

The mahogany veneered case has chequered stringing throughout, canted corners and an arched door to the trunk on a crossbanded base and is surmounted by a pagoda pediment with three Nelson commemorative finials. The finials each have a pressed medallion depicting a bust of Nelson and text around the edge that reads ‘Admiral Lord Nelson, Born 29 Sepr. 1758’, the sides of the finial have an embossed Greek Key pattern and are transversely mounted to a turned spire.

The case style is typical of Suffolk clocks produced in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The pagoda top is reminiscent of those produced in great numbers by the London trade from about 1760 onwards but unlike the London made cases the pagoda is only a frontage and is not continued to the back as a part of the hood.
The seatboard and skirting both appear to be later replacements; despite this it is believed that the case and movement are original to each other.

Object Details

ID: AAA3525
Collection: Timekeeping
Type: Longcase clock
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Felmingham
Date made: circa 1810
People: Nelson, Horatio
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Caird Fund.
Measurements: Overall: 2470 x 504 x 250 mm
Parts: Eight-day Nelson commemorative mahogany longcase clock