An inlaid mahogany tall case clock with an engraved brass dial is signed by Francis Henderson of Musselburgh, Scotland. 224037.

Francis Henderson is listed in Donald Whyte's Clockmakers and Watchmakers of Scotland as a clock and watchmaker working in Musselburgh, Scotland, in 1790. Musselburgh is located in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, five miles east of Edinburgh's city center. Whyte speculates that he may be the same Francis Henderson listed working in West Point, Edinburgh, in 1794.

This attractive tall case clock represents one of the best Edinburgh case forms. This example exhibits excellent narrow proportions and is constructed in richly figured mahogany wood.

This case retains an older finish. As a result, the naturally darker wood and the brass fittings have mellowed to a consistent patina. The case stands on four diminutive applied bracket feet. The base panel features a thin string inlay of blonde satinwood. The pattern features ovolo corners. The waist is long and narrow, centering a large waist door nicely shaped at the top and trimmed with a molded edge. This door exhibits an excellent mahogany grain pattern, a line inlaid border, and a stylized patera. Open this door, and you can access the two drive weights and brass-faced pendulum bob in the case's interior. The side of the waist or corners are fitted with turned wooden quarter capitals and fluted quarter columns. The bonnet features a swan's neck pediment. The molded arches or swan's necks are nicely formed and are decorated with dentil molding and floral-themed carved wooden rosettes. The rosettes have been gilded. They conveniently center a brass finial at the top of the case. The facade under the arch moldings is inset with a blind satinwood fretwork pattern. These pierced frets are backed in green silk. This is a very nice additional detail. Fully turned and fluted bonnet columns terminate in brass capitals. These columns flank the glazed bonnet door.

The single-sheet brass dial is skillfully engraved and treated with a silvered wash. The dial is decorated with fancy vine designs and florals. Several of these terminate with an eagle or a serpent head. This subtle detail suggests that the dial was engraved in Scotland. This clock is signed in the arch. The time ring is traditionally formatted with Roman hour numerals, Arabic five-minute makers, subsidiary seconds dial, and a small circular calendar date aperture.

The weight-driven movement, a testament to the craftsmanship of the time, is constructed in brass and is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It strikes each hour on a bell mounted above the movement. Each train is powered by a weight, ensuring the clock's reliable performance. It is of exceptional quality, a feature enthusiasts will appreciate.

This clock, made circa 1790, stands approximately 87 inches or 7 feet 3 inches tall to the top of the center finial. The bonnet molding is 18.5 inches wide and 10.75 inches deep.

Inventory number 224037.