CASE: Of architectural outline, the domed top with pierced, silk-backed trellis below a flambeau vase finial, the arched sides between outset bifurcating corbels, the front and rear glazed doors with gilt-brass banding, with pierced, silk-backed, foliate scroll panels to the sides, the plinth raised on scroll feet
DIAL: the 4¹⁄₄ inch silvered arched dial plate decorated overall with blue and green champlevé enamel flowerheads and garlands, the white enamel dial with Ottoman hour and minute indications, pierced and engraved gilt hands and signed ‘MARWICK MARKHAM / PERIGAL LONDON’, two subsidiary dials above for ‘CHIME / NOT CHIME’ and musical selection ‘BENI SAIKIT / SABAC HAFIF / SAMAHE / USCHAE DEVIR’
MOVEMENT: the three-train movement with shaped plates joined by seven ringed pillars, with verge escapement and rack striking to bell, the pin barrel musical train with four position cam activating fourteen hammers and striking on eight bells, the bob pendulum with holdfast, the backplate engraved with garlands and scrolls about an oval reserve signed ‘MARKWICK / MARKHAM / PERIGAL / LONDON’; together with a pine travel case, of tapering form with paper label ‘PERA PALACE / CONSTANTINOPLE’
16³⁄₄ in. (42.5 cm.) high; 10¹⁄₂ in. (26.5 cm.) wide; 8 in. (20.3 cm.) deep

with Asprey, 1993.

Antiquarian Horology, volume XXI, Autumn 1993, p.4, Asprey advertisement.
A. W. J. G. Ord-Hume, The Musical Clock, Ashbourne, 1995, p.73, plate IV/22.

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Lot Essay

THE PERIGAL FAMILY OF CLOCKMAKERS
The Threadneedle Street, Royal Exchange, workshop was started by Francis Perigal (I) (b. 1701 - d. 1767), he was a third generation Huguenot refugee, the son of Gideon, a goldsmith at the sign of the Cross Keys in St. Martin’s Lane. Francis was himself apprenticed to a goldsmith, H. Duck, in 1715 and made a freeman in 1741, he worked as a watchmaker and was made Master of the Clockmakers Company in 1756. He was joined by his son Francis (II) (b. 1734 - d. 1824). Francis (II) was apprenticed to his father in 1748 and made free in 1756. Francis (III) (b. 1764 - d. 1843) was in turn apprenticed to his father in 1778 and made free in 1786, he too was elected Master of the Clockmakers in 1806. It is likely that this clock was produced under the auspices of both Francis (II) and (III). The business continued until 1843. There were also numerous other Perigals involved in the horological trade in London and often confused with those above including a Francis S. Perigal (d. 1824), made free in 1781 who was appointed Watchmaker to the King, relationship unknown to I, II, and III, working in New Bond Street 1780-1802. Further details of the family are recorded in Some account of the Perigal Family, published London 1887.

USE OF THE MARKWICK MARKHAM NAME
The Markwick and Markham names appear on clocks and watches from the mid-17th to the early 19th centuries. The earliest clockmaker appears to be James Markwick (born about 1640) who was made free of the Clockmakers Company in 1666. His son James took over his father's business in 1696, was Master of the Clockmakers Company in 1720 and formed a partnership with Robert Markham shortly afterwards, it was short-lived as James junior died in 1730. James junior's daughter Catherine married Robert Markham in about 1729. There are no contemporary directory records of the firm after Markham junior died in 1741. It is after this date that we see many other names written on the dials of clocks and watches in conjunction with Markwick Markham such as with the present clock. As well as the Perigal workshop, others such as Louis Recordon, Dupont, Henry Borrell, William Story, Isaac Rogers, Peter Upjohn, Spencer & Perkins, William Kipling and John Johnson all appear. Both Ian White and Kurz cite Felix de Beaujour (A View of the Commerce of Greece, date unknown) writing of the trade with Turkey: 'Markwick Markham are fictitious names. It is an old extinct clock manufactory whose name some London makers borrowed lest the Turks should be startled by new names'.

THE OTTOMAN MARKET
The earliest recorded attempt at trade with this lucrative market was by Sir John Finch, British ambassador to Turkey. He presented an English Clock to The Grand Vizier in 1680; it was refused as the Grand Vizier was expecting a large sum of money. The Ottoman market peaked for the English Clockmaker in the second half of the 18th century.

Comparative Literature
O. Kurz, European Clocks and Watches in the Near East, London, 1975, pp. 77-88.
Richard C.R. Barder, The Georgian bracket Clock 1714-1830, Woodbridge, 1993, pp. 154-172.
Ian White, English Clocks for the Eastern Markets, Ticehurst, 2012, pp. 344-6.

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Condition report

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OVERALL: A wonderfully opulent musical table clock of small size by one of the premier London makers of the period. The clock has been in private ownership for the past thirty years.
CASE: The dome with some small losses, cracks and misshaping to the applied gilt-bronze ornamentation. The red silk backing to the sound frets replaced overall. One of the four flambeau vase finials to the outset angles is a later replacement. A small section of the edge of the shoulder mount to the base of the dome is lacking. The pierced floral mount below the rear door also appears to be a replacement. The scroll feet are possibly also mostly replaced and have modern retaining screws. The tortoiseshell veneers are in generally good condition; there are a number of inevitable shrinkage cracks, minor losses and some areas of glue evident overall, some areas of lifting and slight warping which would benefit from attention. The ebonised dial frame behind the dial door has been replaced. The hinges to both doors are later replacements. The carcass generally good with inevitable old repairs, a replaced section below the dial door. Some old glue showing in areas. The seatboard with old brass retaining straps to the underside and a hand-beaten ‘dust cover’ for the lower barrel which slightly protrudes to the base of the movement. One of the case/movement brackets is later. Both case/movement brackets slightly misshapen; the upper right-hand side bracket is bent and when fitted is fouling the rear door upper hinge slightly, (it has currently been removed), with loss of putty to inside the glass, which would benefit from attention. The movement has two further retaining screws to the underside with tapped threads to the lower pillars. The repeat cords currently exit through the seatboard, originally through the fret panels to the sides (which have holes to accommodate although the replaced silk does not have holes).
DIAL: the dial has been re-enamelled. To the side of the lower winding hole there is a 1 cm. scratch to the surface. Overall some engrained small flecks of dirt to the enamel. At ’10 o’clock’ there is a further half cm. bubble to the surface. Both gilt hands with some mild tarnishing. Both slightly misshapen. The minute hand has a repair. The subsidiary tune selection dial has also been re-enamelled. Both subsidiary dial hands are also slightly misshapen. The silvered surrounding mask panels with overall tarnish. Some small areas of enamel to the mask now lacking, some small later enamel restorations. The lower right-hand section a little misshapen.
MOVEMENT: Currently ticking and striking but has not been tested for timekeeping or duration. The plates and motionwork overall would benefit from a clean and service. There is a residue of old oil to pinions and arbors. Two of the fusees have been rebushed to the backplate, some pinions also rebushed. There is one vacant tapped hole below the left-hand case bracket. The pin barrel has some pins broken off and lacking. Fitted with gut lines.
With a later winding key; and two case keys.
THE TRAVEL CASE: The case with twin iron loop handles to the sides and a brass swing catch, paper label to top. Overall with evidence of old worm infestation, scuffs and general wear, shrinkage splitting and some losses.

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