Skeleton Clock by John Joseph Merlin

Acquisition of one of five surviving horological inventions by John Joseph Merlin (1735-1803), a Belgian who worked in this country from 1763 on. It is the earliest known spring-driven table clock with a deadbeat escapement showing half seconds.Kenwood owns a Gainsborough portrait of Merlin, and one of his 'mechanical chairs'. On Export stop for £25,000.