Early verge with sun & moon ‘wandering hour’ dial

A large, early Liverpool verge, with a ‘wandering hour’ sun & moon dial, in silver pair cases.

MOVEMENT : The gilt verge movement has a particularly finely pierced and engraved winged balance cock with a mask at the neck and birds and dogs among foliage above. There are four wide crested tulip pillars, a silver regulator disk, a heavily reeded balance wheel and blued steel screws.

Signed RICHARD WALLEY and with an engraving of a strange bird beneath the signature. This is possibly a very early representation of the mythical Liver bird.

In good condition, and running well. There is some rubbing to the surface of the top plate, just above the signature, and the gilding is a little dull in places.

DIAL : The silver champleve ‘wandering hour’ or retrograde dial has a central revolving disk.
The daytime half shows a golden sun and clouds. The night half shows the moon and stars against a gilt sky.
The area under the cut out is engraved (again with birds) and is signed :
WALLEY
FECIT

Gold minute hand.

At the base of the dial is a cut out window to display the date, and although the 3 numeral is visible, the rest of the calendar wheel under the dial is absent. Otherwise the dial is in very good condition and the wandering hour is turning correctly.

INNER CASE : Silver, with very rubbed maker’s mark.

In reasonable condition throughout, though the stem has been reattached. The hinge is good and the bezel snaps shut. The high dome bull’s eye crystal is scratched.

The movement scrapes against the inside edge of the case as it is swung out, so although otherwise the movement fits the case well, the case may be a replacement.

OUTER CASE : A silver case, with maker’s mark WI below a coronet. Large square hinge, typical of the period. Unlike the inner, this case is probably original to the movement.

The silver is in poor condition, with dents, especially on the back where they have resulted in two holes. However the catch button, catch and hinge are fine and the bezel snaps shup.

Richard Walley of Liverpool, married in 1712 and died in 1743.

The case maker’s mark is for John Wightman of London who was free of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1696.