Thomas Tompion, pre-numbered

Circa 1680, un-numbered

Sold

14 inches high

A phase 1 ebony and gilt-brass mounted spring clock. CASE Surmounted by a typical thistle bud handle with cast gilt-brass foliate scroll & garland mounts to the four sides of the domed top, bellflower escutcheons to the front door, glazed sides and rear door, moulded base on block feet. DIAL 6 inch square gilt-brass dial signed Tho Tompion Londini Fecit below the silvered chapter ring with blued-steel hands, pin hole adjusted calendar above VI, winged cherub spandrels, latched dial feet. MOVEMENT Fully latched with seven baluster pillars, twin gut fusees and spring barrels, internal count-wheel (fixed to fusee) with chamfered window in the back plate to view the count-wheel calibration, signed Tho Tompion Londini Fecit in a rectangular reserve within profuse tulip engraving. PROVENANCE C.1949 it was 'in a villa at Poggio a Caiano (Florence) near the famous country house of the Great Duke of Florence', where it had been 'for a very long time'. Sotheby's 28 April 1969, lot 175, the property of a collector resident in Italy. Dr D Pavolini, Some Important English Clocks Made for Italy and One Unrecorded Tompion, AH, June 1969, p.128-131. Sotheby's 18 March 1974, lot 76, the property of a deceased collector. Christie's New York, 16 April1998, lot 20. Private Collection USA. COMMENTS This is one of several clocks which were probably supplied to Italian clients. It has been suggested that it might have belonged to Cosimo III.