A George III Mahogany Long case Clock by Thomas Wagstaffe
Publications
"Watches and clockmakers of the world" Brian Loomes 1929
"Old clocks and watches and their makers" F.J Britten 1977
A George III long case clock in well figured mahogany, the pagoda shaped hood with reeded and brass inlaid columns; the lower part with a shaped door also flanked by columns with brass capitals and the base standing on a shaped plinth.
The three train musical movement, slightly altered, plays on several bells, striking on the quarter hours, and with an arched dial with moon phases, brass spandrels and a silvered chapter ring.
Thomas Wagstaffe was active between 1756 and 1794 from premises at 33 Gracechurch Street London. He was a fellow of Merchant Taylors Co.
There are a number of long case clocks by this maker in the United States generally in the hands of Quakers and their descendants.
Wagstaffe was a Quaker and members of the Society of Friends when visiting London were accustomed to lodge at his house and on their return to the United States frequently took one of his clocks with them.
There is a long case clock by him in the Virginian Museum and a long mahogany case clock in Kasan Cathedral in Leningrad.
The Pierpoint Morgan collection also has an example of his work and there are watches by him in the Metropolitan Museum of art New York and in the Ilbert collection