Regency Coromandel and Mother of Pearl Drop Dial Clock
Regency Drop Dial Wall Clock, the Coromandel case is beautifully decorated with Mother of Pearl to the trunk and around the bezel, the ears featuring two finely worked birds. Repainted dial with Roman numerals, finely cut blued steel hands signed ’William Burch, Maidstone’. Eight day Fusee movement of fine quality with shaped plates. C.1825
Michael Pearsons informative book ’Kent clockmakers and watchmakers’ lists two makers by the name of William Burch. The father is listed as working in Maidstone from 1795 to 1813 and as being a watchmaker. His son, who is the maker of this clock is listed as William Burch Junior and as having been apprenticed in London in 1813, there are two silver verge watch known by him both are pictured on page 117. There is also a reference to him in the Topograph of Maidstone of 1839 as a watchmaker and in Pigots directory of 1832 and Bagshaws directory of 1848, both publications give his address as 69, Bank Street, Maidstone where he worked from 1815 to 1865