Elephant with Clock and Automata

This finely cast and chased elephant is decorated with colorful paste brilliants. A two-sided clock sits atop the elephant’s back. The front dial tells the time. The back dial has three subsidiary dials: time, time adjustment, moon phases. The back dial is signed, Brockbank, London. Embossed gold gilt platform on top of marble base upon which the elephant stands.

The Brockbanks were brothers working in the last quarter of the 18th century and the early years of the 19th century. The name Brockbanks (plural) referred to a partnership of the brothers, although they all worked independently at times. All of the brothers appear to have made work of exceptional quality.