A REGENCY MAHOGANY FUSEE WALL DIAL TIMEPIECEBARWISE, LONDON, CIRCA 1820The four generous knopped pillar single fusee movement with anchor escapement regulated by lenticular bob pendulum and ogee-shouldered rectangular plates stamped 5586 to the lower edge of the frontplate, the 12 inch circular silvered brass dial signed Barwise, LONDON to centre and with blued steel spade hands set behind hinged glazed cavetto-moulded cast brass bezel, with caddy-turned dial surround secured with pegs to the rear box case incorporating doors to both sides and pendulum access flap to the curved underside.36cm (14.25ins) diameter, 15cm (6ins) deep.The life of John Barwise and his family are outlined by A.D. Stewart in his article Barwise & Sons: Watchmakers to the King. A brief history of family and firm published in the March 2014 issue of ANTIQUARIAN HOROLOGY (Vol IIIV No. 1 pages 621-34). Stewart notes that John Barwise was born into a clockmaking family in Cockermouth, Cumberland in around 1756. By 1780 he had moved to London where he opened a watch retailing business. Ten years later he married Elizabeth Weston with his address being recorded as 29 St. Martin's Lane where he remained until his death in 1820. Of their eleven children two (possibly three) died in infancy and two, John II (born 1795) and Weston (born 1793), subsequently joined their father in the family business. In 1800, such was his success, John Barwise I purchased a second house in Dulwich. In 1805 John Barwise I was one of the fifteen watchmakers appointed by The Board of Longitude to adjudicate in the dispute between John Arnold and Thomas Earnshaw regarding 'the respective merits of their chronometers'. On the 14th February 1811 Barwise was the victim of five highwayman who relieved him of a 'gold watch, greatcoat, and a guinea-and-a-half in cash' whilst en-route from Camberwell to Dulwich. This unfortunate occurrence may well have tempered Barwise's enthusiasm for his house in Dulwich as records indicate it was rented out to tenants by 1813. In around 1816 his sons, John II (who had just turned 21) and Weston, joined him in partnership with the business then becoming 'Barwise & Sons'. Shortly afterwards (probably in 1820) the firm obtained the Royal Warrant as watchmakers to King George IV. John Barwise senior died in 1820; by this time he was a wealthy man leaving two properties and substantial investments to his widow and children.