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Thomas Cole
A Fine English Tripod Table Regulator Clock With Integral Thermometer and Barometer, Retailed by Hunt & Roskell, London
£38,000
A Fine English Tripod Table Regulator Clock by Thomas Cole, With Integral Thermometer and Barometer, Retailed by Hunt & Roskell, London Signed to...
Dimensions
Height: 51 cm (21 in)
PrintDescription
A Fine English Tripod Table Regulator Clock by Thomas Cole, With Integral Thermometer and Barometer, Retailed by Hunt & Roskell, London
Signed to the dial for the retailer ‘Hunt & Roskell, London.’
No. 1318 /38
The circular six-inch silvered dial with cast bezel, signed ‘Hunt & Roskell, London’, above Roman chapters and blued steel spade hands, set with a large subsidiary seconds dial below XII, the centre finely engraved with scrolling strapwork decoration. The steel winding square protruding through an engraved and shaped plate immediately below 6 o’clock with handset achieved by adjustment to the rear. The movement with tapered plates joined by cylindrical screwed pillars, a two-part backplate, a going barrel, and deadbeat escapement. The pendulum suspended from the apex of the tripod from a G-bracket, with plumb line above, fine regulation achieved by a sliding cylindrical weight on the rod, terminating in a heavy silvered spherical bob secured via Cole’s pendulum-locking system.
The case formed of three cylindrical rods set on a gilt and stepped circular base engraved with scrolling foliage, the recessed centre with a semi-circular glazed barometer with silvered register scale, blued steel hand and manually adjustable gilt recording hand. The tilted thermometer within an engraved and gilded surround. Below the tip of the pendulum is a beat scale resting on a bimetallic bar providing thermal compensation, the base resting on three adjustable gilt-metal levelling nuts.
Retaining its original glass dome and brass winding key.
Height of clock 51 cm / 20 inches.
England, Circa 1855.
This fine and rare timepiece by Thomas Cole is a masterpiece of design. Described by Hawkins in ‘Thomas Cole & Victorian Clockmaking’ as “the first English table regulator for a gentleman’s library table,” Cole’s strut clock underwent over eight iterations before achieving a design that combined precision with extraordinary elegance.
The use of a tripod to determine the optimal pendulum suspension point is just one of several ingenious mechanisms Cole employed. Three adjustable nuts serving as feet allow for effective levelling of the clock, while a plumb line and bob ensure precise vertical alignment. Relocating the winding square directly beneath the dial eliminates the risk of scratching the surface or damaging the hands, while the inclusion of a thermometer, angled at 45 degrees, effectively conceals the beat scale and pendulum locking mechanism.
Ingeniously designed, the locking mechanism positioned just below the pendulum’s tip includes a beat scale resting on a brass bar that can be raised to secure the pendulum in place. This mechanism also provides thermal compensation through a bi-metallic strip, which automatically raises or lowers the bob in response to temperature fluctuations.
Both inventive and aesthetically striking, this rare clock exemplifies the highly ornamental Victorian timepieces created by Thomas Cole for prestigious London retailers such as Hunt & Roskell, C.F. Hancock, and R. & S. Garrard in the mid-nineteenth century.
Hunt & Roskell
In 1819, Paul Storr and John Samuel Hunt founded a firm of manufacturing and retail jewellers and silversmiths. The business traded under various names over the years: Storr & Co. (1819–1822), Storr & Mortimer (1822–1838), Mortimer & Hunt (1838–1843), and finally, Hunt & Roskell (1843–1897).
Hunt & Roskell operated a shop at 156 New Bond Street and a workshop at 26 Harrison Street. John Samuel Hunt remained a partner until his death in 1865, after which his son, John Hunt, took over. Robert Roskell, formerly a watchmaker and merchant from Liverpool, joined the firm in 1844 and remained involved until his passing in 1888. In 1889, the firm was acquired by J.W. Benson but continued operating as Hunt & Roskell Ltd until around 1965.
The Art Journal Illustrated Catalogue of 1851 described Hunt & Roskell with high praise: ‘Without disparagement to any other house in London, in a similar branch of business, it may be said that Messrs. Hunt and Roskell have no rival…and a visit to their show-rooms is like inspecting a museum of Art.’
Date
Circa 1855
Origin
England
Medium
Polished & Engraved Brass
Signature
Signed to the dial for the retailer ‘Hunt & Roskell, London.’ No. 1318 /38
Thomas Cole
Thomas Cole (1800–1864) was born in Nether Stowey, Somerset, the son of James Cole, a practising clockmaker. Although little is documented regarding his formal training, it is likely that he acquired his basic horological skills from his father. Like his elder brother, James Ferguson Cole (1798–1880), Thomas Cole pursued a career in precision timekeeping, initially collaborating with his sibling in London.
In 1823, Thomas Cole entered into a partnership with James Ferguson Cole at 3 New Bond Street, London, where they specialised in chronometers, watches, and clocks. One of their notable collaborative works, a portable astronomical clock from 1825, is now housed in the British Museum. This partnership dissolved in 1829, after which Thomas Cole embarked on an independent career. By 1845, he had transitioned into the production of ornamental clocks, distinguishing himself as a designer and manufacturer of unique and highly decorative timepieces.
Cole’s work is characterised by original designs and high-quality craftsmanship. His clocks frequently incorporated classical and naturalistic themes, reflecting broader Victorian artistic trends. One of Cole’s most significant innovations was the development of the strut clock, a portable, flat timepiece suitable for desks and travel. These clocks, produced in various shapes such as oval and rectangular models, were introduced at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. This exhibition served as a critical platform for promoting his work, and his timepieces were also displayed at the Exposition Universelle in Paris (1855) and the London International Exhibition (1862), where he received a medal for excellence.
Throughout his career, Cole manufactured approximately 1,600 clocks, each exhibiting slight variations in design. His numbering system began around 1846, starting at 500 and continuing sequentially until his death, with the highest recorded number being below 1900. Prior to the implementation of this system, it is estimated that he produced an additional 200 clocks.
A defining characteristic of Cole’s work is the superior engraving on his clock cases and dials. His craftsmanship set a benchmark in horology, leading to imitation by other clockmakers, such as E. White and W. Vasel, though none equalled his level of refinement. The construction of his strut clocks involved a central casting with applied layers of decoration, ensuring both precision and aesthetic quality.
Cole’s contributions to horology were formally recognised with his election to the Royal Society of Arts in 1861, as well as membership in the Royal Horological Institute. Despite his influence, much of his work was marketed under the names of high-end London retailers, including Hunt & Roskell, C. F. Hancock, R. & S. Garrard, H. & E. Tessier, E. Dent, and Asprey, which contributed to his relative obscurity in later years.
Thomas Cole died of typhoid fever on January 3, 1864. His work remained largely forgotten until the publication of John Hawkins’s 1975 biography, ‘Thomas Cole and Victorian Clockmaking’, which re-established his reputation as one of the foremost clockmakers of the 19th century. Today, Cole’s timepieces are highly regarded for their distinctive designs, exceptional engraving, and unparalleled craftsmanship.
Literature:
J. B. Hawkins, ‘Thomas Cole & Victorian Clockmaking’, Macarthur Press, Sydney, 1975
J. B. Hawkins, ‘Thomas Cole & Victorian Clockmaking’, Macarthur Press, Sydney, 1975.
Culme, J. The Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, Jewellers and Allied Traders 1838-1914, (Woodbridge, UK), 1987.
The Art Journal Illustrated Catalogue of 1851.
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