A FINE AND RARE GEORGE III RED JAPANNED MUSICAL TABLE CLOCK MADE FOR THE MIDDLE-EASTERN MARKET Recordon, Spencer and Perkins, London, circa 1780 The substantial six pillar triple fusee bell-striking movement with plates measuring 8.5 by 6.75 inches, verge escapement regulated by short bob pendulum and playing a choice of four tunes after the hour on a graduated nest eight-bells via a transversely planted 3 inch pinned cylinder, the backplate engraved with delicate scrolling foliage around a central motif of crescent raised on a pedestal, the 8 inch brass break-arch dial with recessed shaped signature plate engraved Recordon, Spencer & Perkins. LONDON to the centre incorporating unusual raised polychrome and gilt painted flowering foliage infill within applied engraved 'Turkish' numeral chapter ring with conforming five minute annotations to outer track, with scroll-pierced steel hands and conforming painted flowering foliate infill to spandrels continuing up into the arch to envelop the subsidiary STRIKE/NOT STRIKE and MINUET/COTILLION/JIGG/GAVOT selection dials, the case with bell-shaped superstructure gilt decorated with vases and baskets of flowers onto a red ground flanked by acanthus sprays to angles, over double cavetto top mouldings and hinged glazed front door further painted with floral sprays and gilt ground panels to frame and spandrel panels flanked by conforming canted angles, the sides with generous hinged brass handles over concave-topped rectangular windows within further line-edged foliate panel decorated surround, the rear matching the front but without canted angles, on complex moulded skirt base incorporating scroll painted shaped aprons over acanthus cast brass scroll feet. 54cm (21.25ins) high, 40cm (15.75ins) wide, 24.5cm (9.75ins) deep. Louis Recordon is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as working in Soho, London 1778-1824. Although Baillie asserts that he 'retired' in 1796 it is most probable that he had significant involvement up until 1824. Online records allow us to add that he was Swiss born, his workshop was in Greek Street, Soho and that he was the London agent for Abraham-Louis Breguet. In 1805 Recordon took over the workshop from the watchmaker Josiah Emery, one of the first to use the lever escapement after Thomas Mudge, hence many of his watches and clocks are signed 'Recordon late Emery'. Louis Recordon appeared to specialise in musical clocks (often for export), fine watches and was known to have devised a form of pedometer. The Recordon business was succeeded by Des Granges in 1824. The Partnership between John Spencer and Perkins (probably William) is recorded by Baillie as working from Snow Hill, London 1765-1806. Any association between the workshop of Spencer and Perkins and Louis Recordon appears to have not been formerly recorded hence it was most likely a relatively informal 'trading arrangement'. Indeed it was not unusual for such arrangements to exist especially amongst makers who often supplied clocks for the middle-eastern market, such as Markwick Markham, Henry Borrell and the Rimbault family as well as Recordon. The current lot has survived in remarkably original condition and exhibits many features typical of examples destined for sale to a middle-eastern client. These include the lack of any form of figural decoration, 'Turkish' numeral chapter ring, crescent motif to backplate and strong focus on floral designs (most notably to the dial).