Thomas Foden, Congleton c1765

An 8-day mahogany longcase clock, with moon phase in the arch, by Thomas Foden of Congleton in Cheshire.

A good deal of work has gone into the making of this case. Note the decorative arcading and dentil moulding at the top of the trunk and above the dial.

There are also 3 brass ball and eagle finials. The clock has quarter columns to the trunk with decorative 'brickwork' base, and freestanding pillars to the hood.

The base has an applied panel, canted corners and stands on ogee feet.

The 4-pillar movement has an anchor escapement and strikes the hours on a bell. The striking uses an inside pinned countwheel - typical of clocks from the Manchester area at the period.

Thomas Foden took Thomas Furnival, James Furnivall and James Brindley as apprentices in 1755, 1762 and 1778 respectively.

Foden died in December 1785 and an advert in the Manchester Mercury for 29 October 1785 indicates that Foden's stock, sold after his death, included 50 8-day and 10 30-hour movements - a large number for a clockmaker in a small provincial town.

This photograph shows the detailed workmanship on the hood.

The 12-inch dial has large cherubs head spandrels and shows phases of the moon in the arch. The moon disc has been repainted.

The clock has a subsidiary dial for seconds and a curved aperture for date indication.

Stock No.: C918