Musical table clock by Thwaites for Barraud

Spring driven, musical table clock signed by Barraud, London 1788, with later modifications in China. Ebonised and veneered wooden case with arched top and gilt-brass mounts. Engraved brass dial plate with applied circular white enamel dial. Gold hands. Fusee movement with verge escapement and balance wheel, which is mounted on the backplate. The clock plays four tunes on seven bells with nine hammers (two of the hammers are duplicated for repeated notes). It also strikes the hour on a large bell. Engraved backplate, signed ‘Barraud, London’ also engraved with Chinese characters. The movement is also stamped 'Thwaites 340'.

The stamp 'Thwaites 340' found on the clock's movement, indicates that it was made for Barraud by the clockmaking firm Thwaites. The Thwaites workbooks are deposited with The London Archive, and show this was one of four clocks, forrmed of two pairs, made by Thwaites on behalf of Barraud in 1788 'for the China Markett'. The original Thwaites workbook entry states that the pairs of clocks were fitted into enamelled cases. The case and dial were likely changed at a later date in China. Research carried out by Cedric Jagger for his book 'Paul Philip Barraud' shows that the clock belonged to a German living in Beijing in 1953. Bequeathed by Miss E. M. Barraud to the museum of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1972. Clockmakers' Museum No. 592