The series of Victorian carriage clocks by James McCabe – the son of a Belfast clockmaker of the same name who came to London in the 1770s and worked at the Royal Exchange from 1804 – are typically beautifully made with exemplary twin fusee striking movements.

Extracted from Antiques Trade Gazette | ATG Reporter

These two textbook examples made identical sums against rather different pre-sale expectations at auction in May. Both were sold in sold with original numbered keys and red Morocco leather cases.

Regional successes

The clock above was offered by Chorley’s in Prinknash Abbey, Gloucestershire, on May 21 with more modest hopes of £1000-1500. A little larger at 8in (29cm) high and numbered 2451, suggesting a date closer to the early years of Victorian Britain, it took £11,000.

The example below sold to the local trade also at £11,000 (estimate £7000-10,000) as part of Bellmans’ sale in Wisborough Green, West Sussex, on May 14.

Standing 7½in (18.5cm) high with a movement featuring maintaining power, a large platform lever escapement with bi-metallic compensated balance and a push repeat, it was signed to the backplate James McCabe, Royal Exchange London and numbered 2946 for c.1860.