A mahogany fusee dial wall timepiece with 9 inch dial The dial signed for Benjamin Ward, late 18th century and later four pillar single fusee movement now with anchor escapement regulated by lenticular bob pendulum and tapered plates, the 9 inch circular silvered brass Roman numeral dial inscribed Benj'n Ward, LONDON beneath blanked-off false-bob aperture to centre, with Arabic five minutes to outer track and blued steel hands set behind hinged ogee-profile glazed wooden bezel, in a case with moulded surround fronting dovetail jointed mahogany box incorporating door to right hand side and pendulum access flap to underside, and with shaped extensions to the upper and lower edges of the backboard behind, (case probably of 20th century construction), 30.5cm (12ins); 39cm (15.25ins approx.) high. Provenance: The beneficiary of the Estate of a private collector, East Midlands. Two makers with the name Benjamin Ward are recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as working in London during the latter part of the 18th century. The first is noted as working from Norton Folgate circa 1765-90 and the second from St. Georges Fields 1799-1808. The case of the current lot, although faithfully constructed, is most likely of 20th century manufacture. From this it is perhaps appropriate to speculate that the movement and dial may have started life housed in a carved giltwood 'cartel' type case, which, as with so many of that type, may have been become worn and damaged beyond economic repair.