A fine large Victorian engraved gilt brass oval strut timepiece Thomas Cole for retail by Finnigans, London, circa 1860 The gilt eight-day movement of tapered form with the mainspring barrel and all wheels of the train positioned behind a backplate occupying the lower two thirds with four back-screwed pillars, the upper section with vertical platform lever escapement applied to the inside of the frontplate incorporating typical Cole sprung gold three-arm monometallic balance, the wheels with six-spoke wheel crossings and the backplate with lattice-hatched decoration, the 8.75 by 6.25 inch oval silvered brass Roman numeral dial with fine tied floral bloom engraved centre and blued steel fleur-de-lys hands within borders engraved with horizontal hatched ground foliate strapwork panel infill incorporating retailer's signature FINNIGANS, BOND ST., LONDON cartouche to lower margin within fine geometric band outer border and canted surround behind fixed glass, the case of oval easel form with shaped scrolling strapwork and line-hatched crest over repeating diamond lozenge outer border enclosing radial flute engraved bezel to the dial and conforming outswept feet to front, the rear with domed oval movement cover incorporating winding key and apertures for regulation and hand setting, and a hinged looped frame strut incorporating a securing latch for the closed position, the interior and lower edge of the movement cover stamped with serial number 1640, 37cm (14.5ins) high. The movement of the current lot is typical of Cole's work with direct drive from a mainspring barrel (rather than fusee), six-spoke wheel crossings and gold three-arm balance. This combined with the overall design and quality of manufacture, as well as the stamped serial number 1640 sitting comfortably within his known range, allows firm attribution of the present timepiece to the workshop of Thomas Cole. The life and work of Thomas Cole is extensively documented in Hawkins, J.B. THOMAS COLE & VICTORIAN CLOCKMAKING. Thomas Cole was born in Nether Stowey, Somerset in 1800. His father, Thomas senior, was a local clockmaker who is now known to have moved his family to Taunton in around 1815; he was a talented maker who probably taught both Thomas and his older brother, James Ferguson, the clockmaking trade. By 1821 James Ferguson had moved to London and filed a Patent for a pivoted detent escapement, by 1823 he was working from New Bond Street where he was joined by his younger brother, Thomas. Over the next twelve years the two brothers worked alongside each other and produced a series of highly complicated silver 'humpback' carriage clocks very much in the manner of Abraham Louis Breguet (leading some to speculate a connection between Breguet and the Cole brothers). The brothers then went their separate ways with James Ferguson going on to explore his technical abilities later developing a series of escapement designs including a 'resilient' lever escapement (1830), a 'double rotary' escapement (1840), a detached escapement calliper (1849) and an escapement with negative diameter (1859). Thomas Cole sought to specialise in small decorative timepieces of the highest quality. By 1845 he was advertising himself as a 'designer and maker of ornamental clocks' and in 1851 submitted examples for display at the Great Exhibition, both under his name, and on the stands of other leading retailers such as Hunt & Roskel and Hancocks. He then went on to exhibit at the Paris Exhibition of 1855 where his entry warranted an 'Honourable Mention', and again at the British International Exhibition in 1862 where he was awarded a medal for 'Excellence of taste and design'. Thomas Cole was elected to the Royal Society of Arts in June 1861; he died three years later of typhoid fever, at his home at 1 Westbourne Park Road, Paddington, leaving his second wife Charlotte and their three children (two boys and one girl). Finnigans were specialist manufacturers of luxury luggage who originated in Liverpool and Manchester before branching-out into London in around 1855. Capitalising on increased demand due to the growth of railway travel they also sold other luxury accessories such as clocks and watches.The current timepiece is unusually large making it a 'statement piece' perfect for the showrooms of a high-end retailer of luxury accessories. Please note revised estimate from the printed catalogue.