A very fine quality mahogany bracket clock by Matthew Pearson, London. The twin fusee, striking, 8 day, 5 pillar movement with original rise and fall verge escapement; with rare enameled cream dial inscribed “M.Pearson, Fleet St, London”. Subsidiary dials for “strike/silent” and “fast/slow”. The movement is of very high quality, with a fully engraved back plate, striking the hours on a bell. Unusually it has a rise and fall verge escapement, allowing the adjustment of timekeeping via the dial on the front of the clock rather than manually adjusting the pendulum length. The well figured mahogany case with a broken arch pad top, with brass pineapple finials to each corner. The pad is raised and bordered with brass inlay, the original brass carry handle is centrally mounted, with elegant moulding to all edges. The front of the case has a broken arched glazed door with brass escutcheon, quarter column reeded pillars to the corners, with brass inlay all round. The sides have the original brass scalloped fretwork, the rear has another broken arched glazed door revealing the elegant engraved movement back plate. The clock stands on brass ogee bracket feet.
Enameled dials were rare in the late 18th century and were generally regarded as a London fashion introduced between 1770 and 1800, it was well after this in the early 19th century that “white dial” clocks became more abundant. Matthew Pearson is recorded as working from 1761 -1782 as a clock and a watchmaker, which may explain the exceptional quality of the case, movement and the unusual features on this clock. A stunning example!