Parcel gilt silver cased cheval clock by Thomas Cole, $12,000 (£9500)at Andrew Jones.
The vast majority of Cole’s recorded strut clocks are gilt brass; this appears to be the only one known in silver.
As it bears the monogram JFC for James Ferguson Cole and TC for Thomas Cole, it is thought to have been made to commemorate the ending of the partnership between the two brothers by 1850.
The following year, Thomas showed at the Great Exhibition, London in 1851. Along with his own booth, he had a variety of pieces on display in the stands of at least four other retailers, including Hunt & Roskell.
This clock was sold on November 29 last year at the Los Angeles saleroom Andrew Jones (25% buyer’s premium)as part of the private collection of the late California dealer Nina Schwimmer.
Estimated at $2000-3000, it was bought by the London silver dealer S&J Stodel at $12,000 (£9500) and has since sold to Australian dealer and collector John Hawkins, author of Thomas Cole and Victorian Clockmaking(1975).
The clock is further described in Hawkins’ free internet book Thomas Cole Volume II.
