Beschreibung:

A fine early Victorian mahogany fusee drop-dial wall timepiece Vulliamy, London, supplied for the H.M. Government Poor Law Commission, circa 1836 The substantial rectangular four-pillar single fusee movement with thick plates and half-deadbeat escapement regulated by 15.5 inch heavy disc bob pendulum suspended from typical wide-jaw backcock, the backplate signed VULLIAMY, LONDON over serial number 1378, the 12 inch circular silvered Roman numeral dial further signed VULLIAMY, LONDON beneath crowned Royal V.R. cypher and ribbon banner inscribed POOR LAW COMMISSION to centre, with blued steel spade hands set behind heavy cast brass convex glazed bezel within generous ogee moulded mahogany surround, the rectangular case with hinged side doors and flame-figured front over astragal moulded waist and canted ‘chisel’ base incorporating hinged pendulum access flap bordered with half-round mouldings, 61cm (24ins) high. Provenance: Private collection, Hampshire (C4); purchased at Bonhams, London, 12th December 1980 (lot 65) for £600 hammer. Various paper labels applied to the inside of the left hand door include one inscribed with the name Mr. Heath and indicate that it was housed at Whitehall in Room 3, 4th Floor on the 16th April 1948. Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as born 1780 to Benjamin Vulliamy and gaining his freedom of the Clockmakers' Company in 1809. He worked from 52 Pall Mall, served as Warden 1821-5 and was appointed Master five times. He was the last of the celebrated dynasty of Royal clockmakers which started with his grandfather, Justin, forming a partnership with George II's clockmaker, Benjamin Gray Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy was perhaps one of the most influential horologists of his time publishing many works and undertaking numerous high profile public commissions as well as holding the Royal Warrant. He supplied many clocks to the Royal family including the turret clock for Windsor Castle in 1829 (replacing an earlier movement by Joseph Knibb ; however his horological legacy is perhaps somewhat slightly blighted by his tendency to undertake controversial alterations to earlier important clocks by makers such as Tompion. The Vulliamys started numbering most of their clocks from 1788 until 1854. Two of the original Vulliamy work books still survive in the library of the British Horological Institute at Upton Hall, these often can provide valuable information regarding the manufacture and provenance of many clocks made by the workshop. Unfortunately the records are incomplete hence only note clocks with serial numbers 296-469 and 746-1067. From the engraved V.R. Cypher and banner POOR LAW COMMISSION it would appear that the present timepiece was supplied by Vulliamy for use by The Poor Law Commission at Somerset House in around 1836 - very soon after the ascension of Queen Victoria to the throne. The current lot would have been added to a large inventory of Vulliamy’s work in the possession of the Crown as reflected by a third surviving workbook, relating only to repairs and servicing dating to the period 1846-53, which records at least sixty five clocks being in the possession of the government ‘Office of Works’ and another forty being in the possession of Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace. Another comparable but slightly later wall timepiece by Vulliamy (number 1525), this time inscribed with Royal V.R. cypher and inscribed PAYMASTER OF EXCHEQUER BILLS over date AD 1842, was sold at Bearnes, Hampton and Littlewood, Exeter, 7th October 2015 (lot 744) for £8,800 hammer. The Poor Law Commission was a body established to administer poor relief after the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834. The intention of the Act was to essentially tackle chronic social issues of unemployment and homelessness by taking those who were unable to provide for themselves off the streets and place them in a workhouse. The commission was made up of three commissioners who bec