A George III inlaid mahogany hooded wall timepiece with alarm, John Edgecumbe, Bristol, late 18th century The four pillar two-handed weight driven movement with anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum and verge alarm mechanism set between the plates sounding via a vertically pivoted hammer on a bell mounted above, the 8 inch silvered brass break-arch dial with alarm setting disc, scroll pierced hands and Arabic five minutes to outer track, the spandrels engraved with leafy sprays and the arch signed John Edgecumbe, Bristol, the case with swan neck pediment incorporating flame-figured frieze with inlaid baton decoration to front angles over break-arch door with line inlaid surround flanked by turned columns with gilt caps and bases, the sides with conforming quarter columns set against bargeboards at the rear, the bracket with concave throat over scroll-outline side panels and break-arch recess to the lower edge of the backboard, 78cm (30.5ins) high. John Edgecumbe is recorded in Moore, A.J. THE CLOCKMAKERS OF BRISTOL 1650-1900 as working from 15 Old Market, Bristol 1784-1834. He was a notable maker known producing fine longcase clocks in the ‘high Bristol style’ often incorporating ‘High Water at Bristol Key’ and with fine engraved decoration to the dial. Edgecumbe was made a Burgess of the city in 1812 and was succeeded by his Son Nathaniel who continued form the same address until 1841.