Painted Dial Clocks

Book excerpt: This is the only book dealing with antique British clocks with painted dials, also known as japanned or white dials. No prior knowledge is assumed in the reader and the book explains how even the beginner can very easily learn to assess the style, age and quality and even the region of origin of any painted dial clock. The development of dial and case style is explained in non-technical detail with 44 colour plates and 275 black and white illustrations. In particular, regional trends and tastes in cases are identified and explained in detail, a feature of no other book. Considerable attention is given to show how the trade worked in the past, including how the clockmaker and the customer selected their dials. The book is written in a manner which can easily be followed by the beginner or the inexperienced owner of a clock, but the expert will find much here that is new, including a fully-detailed list of every recorded dialmaker, essential for cross-checking the age of any clock. Required reading for the owner of any painted dial clock as well as collectors and dealers.