Gilt-brass clock cases with scroll corner angles appear to have been popular with the Chinese market and were used by both John Mottram and Henry Borrell. The scrolls on the present case are exceptionally finely detailed being pierced on three sides and are almost identical to those on a clock by Borrell, discussed and illustrated by Ian White, English Clocks for the Eastern Markets, p.224. That clock also has an automaton surmount although the automaton to the present clock is of unusual shape and is particularly finely executed for a clock of this size.

For further information regarding John Mottram and clocks for the Chinese market please see the footnote to Lot 16.