TC-49 British Long-Case Clock by Muirhead and Arthur

Starkly simple in design, this truly stunning mahogany-veneered case exemplifies the quality of this clock bearing the Muirhead name. The use of contrasting bands of mahogany on the trunk door and body provide a visual charm accentuated by the columns with their simple capitals. The base continues the theme with its inset central panel of mahogany surrounded by mahogany cross-banding. The slightly tapered trunk is a subtle and quite unusual feature – narrower at the top than at the bottom. Whilst sometimes seen in Scottish drum head clocks it is rarely if ever seen in a more conventional case like this one. This influence can therefore be understood, in that this clock comes from Glasgow – in western Scotland. Interestingly I have another Muirhead and Arthur in a very similar case, with virtually identical mahogany veneering that is not tapered. Standing 83 inches tall this piece would be equally at home in a small library or in a 20 foot tall foyer. The simple square dial with its applied silver leaf under a golden shellac finish is a hallmark of a Muirhead piece. James Muirhead, guild member from 1817 to 1841, appointed watchmaker to Queen Victoria, produced very high-quality long case clocks. Apparently he worked with a Mr. Arthur in 1840, this being the only year listed in the Guild records for “Muirhead & Arthur”. It has been many years since I cleaned this mechanism, but I do recall that it had some of the finest pivots I had seen in a British mechanism. It is also interesting to note that even the weights have been finished with a smooth, glossy surface – a detail I have not seen before. The mechanism for this piece can be seen here: Mechanism