A Dutch Amsterdam burr walnut inlaid quarter striking alarm longcase clock with ships automaton, Jan Hendrik Melitz, circa 1760

31.5-cm brass dial, engraved silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds, foliate pierced hands and engraved alarm disc, silvered signature plate signed Jan Hend. Melitz Amsterdam, foliate brass spandrels, apertures for date, moonphase, tide and for the automaton of ships and dolphins rocking to and fro' on a choppy sea, an angel above connected to the going train of the anchor movement with trip repeating rack Dutch quarter striking on alternating bells, alarm on a large bell, burr walnut case with bell top surmounted by a giltwood atlas and two angels, shaped moulded cornice with carved ornament over the pierced frets to the front and sides, break arch glazed door with brass capped columns, canted trunk, long shaped door with foliate inlay and unusual basket lenticle, moulded bombed base with similar inlay raised on claw feet