Robert Wood Clocks
Robert Wood was an English clockmaker active in London during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with his career spanning approximately from 1795 to 1825. He is known for crafting high-quality bracket clocks, often featuring mahogany cases with brass mounts and intricate designs.
One notable example of his work is a mahogany table clock with a verge escapement, dating around 1795. This clock showcases an eight-day duration movement with a five-pillar two-train fusee mechanism, striking and repeating the hour on a bell. The backplate is engraved with scrolls, foliage, and a central depiction of the Prince of Wales feathers. The silvered brass dial bears Roman numerals, Arabic minute markers, a circular date dial above the VI position, blued steel hands, and a strike/silent feature in the arch. The plain mahogany bell-top case is adorned with small brass finials at each corner, a carrying handle, glass inspection windows on the sides, and stands on four brass ogee feet.
Another example is a late 18th-century brass-mounted mahogany bell-top bracket/table clock. This piece features a case surmounted by a molded brass handle with floral caryatids on the front and brass fish-scale frets on the sides. The molded base is supported by small brass ogee feet. The silvered Roman and Arabic dial includes a strike/silent subsidiary dial above the central signature "Robert Wood, London," and a subsidiary calendar dial, all complemented by pierced blued steel hands. The twin gut (now wire) fusee movement incorporates a knife-edge verge escapement and rack striking on a bell. The backplate is decorated with a geometric border framing an exotic bird amid foliate engraving.
Despite the quality and craftsmanship of his clocks, detailed biographical information about Robert Wood remains limited. His surviving timepieces, however, continue to be appreciated for their aesthetic appeal and mechanical precision, reflecting the horological standards of his era.
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