A FINE AND RARE EARLY 18TH CENTURY WALNUT FUSEE TABLE / BRACKET CLOCK BY JOHN CRAMPTON, DUBLIN, CIRCA 1720, No. 496the inverted bell top surmounted by a brass ringed and knopped swing handle, the sides with arched glazed panels, the front door of break-arch form with fruitwood and ebonised stringing, raised on a plinth base and bracket feet, the six inch brass break-arch dial with gilt putto mask spandrels, silvered Roman chapter ring with Arabic five minute markers, the Roman numerals interspersed with acanthus motifs, the gilt matted centre signed 'Jon Crampton Dublin 496', withan inactive dummy winding hole beside the proper winding hole, with a chamfered date aperture to the arch flanked by engraved foliage, the single fusee timepiece movement with rectangular plates united by four ringed and knopped pillars, with verge escapement, the backplate signed 'Jon Crampton Dublin 496', and engraved with long floral tendrils and a foliate border, with pendulum,42cm highThe movement is winding and ticking but not fully tested or guaranteed. Previously with pull repeat on a bell, now lacking.John Crampton is listed in B. Loomes, Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World, Vol 2. as free of the Clockmakers Company to work as a master clockmaker in 1704. He was known to have had his workshop at Dame St at this time, and was still working in 1732 when he married Mary Booth on 20th July in St Catherine's church. The fruitwood and ebonised stringing to the case and the dummy winding holes to the break-arch dial are typical features of early 18th century Irish clockmaking. The dummy winding hole provides visual balance and gives the illusion of a fully striking movement.Table clocks of this type from Ireland are rare survivors, this example of small, easily portable size is typical as most were produced as timepieces rather than striking clocks, with a pull repeat so that the strike did not disturb during the night but the owner could find out the time without having to light a candle.