William Scafe, (1674-1765) - Early Georgian ebonised twin fusee chiming bracket clock with pull repeat, the 7-inch break-arched brass dial; having a silvered chapter ring with Roman hours, Arabic minutes and minute track, framing a matted centre with mock pendulum aperture and calendar square, the arch with signed silvered strip framing seconds ring within scrollwork, the knopped five-pillar movement with verge and crownwheel escapement, chiming on a carillon of six bells and striking on a seventh, the backplate finely engraved with foliate scrollwork, the case with ogee caddy top having lacquered brass carry handle, over pine cone finials to the moulded roof, wooden tarcery to side frets, on swept bracket feet, 44.5cm high (ex. handle)

William Scafe [also Scaife] was born in Bushley near Denton, Yorkshire in 1687, he initially served with his father as a blacksmith, then upon moving to London he worked 'At the Sign of the Clock' in King Street, near Guildhall. He was Free of the Clockmakers' Company from 1721, and in 1749 was made Master.

He is best known for the distinctive layouts on his clock dials, commonly placing the seconds dial in the arch by means of an elongated contrate pinion arbor to the escapement.

Britten quotes the Hon. B Fairfax as writing in 1727 of 'one William Scafe...now the most celebrated workman, perhaps in London and Europe'.