Antique Clock Appraisal
- elliotmelamed
- Sep 24
- 2 min read
Antique George III bracket clock by John Coleman (London) in ebonized mahogany case, the Roman numeral silver tone dial with date window and silent/strike indicator dial, gilt bronze mounted handle, finials and feet, and engraved decorated brass movement, complete with pendulum. Signed on the dial. Approx. 17½” high, 9” wide, 7¼” deep. Circa 1780
We recently prepared a detailed estate contents report for a local client part of which was an antique clock appraisal. The rare timepiece involved was a lovely late 18th Century bracket clock by well regarded English clock maker John Coleman.
Antique Clock Appraisal
The 18th century marked a golden age of English horology, centered around London’s vibrant workshop culture. Clockmakers—members of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers—produced everything from grandstanding longcase clocks for merchant clients to intricate bracket clocks for fashionable interiors.
In this milieu, John Coleman emerged as a modest yet skilled artisan. Though not firmly established within the central guild records, he left behind at least one surviving signature: an ebonised bracket clock of exceptional quality, later auctioned in 2023 for around €1,700, suggesting enduring value beyond its reserve price .
The Bracket Clock: Form & Function
Bracket clocks—also known as table clocks—were spring-driven timekeepers evolving alongside the longcase in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Named for the optional wall bracket they often sat upon, these clocks were prized for their portability and elegance ivaluations.net.
Coleman’s clock likely featured hallmark characteristics of its era:
Ebonised case: This veneer mimicked luxurious ebony, signaling taste and sophistication.
Spring-driven fusee movement: A hallmark of precision timekeeping, ensuring power consistency.
Signed dial and/or backplate: Coleman’s signature survives, indicating pride in workmanship and serving as a maker’s mark.
John Coleman Bracket Clock
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