A George III tutleshell and ormolu mounted musical automata table clock by James Cox.

Note: The arch framing the dial is applied with the St. Edwards Crown emblematic for the British monarch and the same cresting is repeated on the reverse side suggesting a Royal connection.

The oak case is veneered with scarlet backed turtleshell; the bell-shaped top has gilt-brass foliate mounts on all sides and is surmounted by an urn finial on a pedestal decorated with panels of an Eastern man seated within a tent. The break-arch dial, set with ormolu scroll and foliage mounts typical of Cox, has a very finely painted ground and is signed ‘James Cox London’ at the centre. The music train plays ten tunes on thirteen bells via thirteen hammers, and the backplate and cocks are all finely engraved with asymmetric scrolls and foliage.

James Cox of London is best known for creating elaborate automata and mechanical clocks that he exported to China, Russia and elsewhere. Some were gifts to the Chinese Emperor Qianlong, many of which are still in the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing. Other works by Cox are in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia; Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, England and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

The ormolu crown cresting is not a standard mount and even the gilding is a slightly different hue. It was purposely placed in the most prominent position. However, no record has been found as yet in the Royal Archives.
During much of the 18th and 19th centuries Royal clocks were monopolised by several generations of the Vulliamy family who serviced all the clocks but had little respect for contemporary clockmakers. As a result other non Vulliamy clocks often had their entire workings removed with movements of their own making. The Vulliamy Ledgers recording the servicing of the Royal clocks describes clocks by Vulliamy in the minutest detail whilst other clocks have little or no descriptions to them making it near impossible to identify a clock made by James Cox
Whether Cox delivered the clock to the King or it was only intended to be presented to the King but for some reason never entered the Royal Collection we simply don't know. We can be certain, however, that the clock had a lucky escape from the overzealous Vulliamy treatment.

Interestingly, a barometer now in a private collection but originally made for William III by Daniel Quare features a comparable St. Edwards crown made in silver.