[javascript protected email address]
[javascript protected email address]
Circa 1683
Sold
Height 6 ft 4 inches
A very fine and rare ‘key-hole’ walnut month-going longcase clock. CASE The very well-proportioned case is line-inlaid to the trunk and plinth with boxwood and ebony geometric panels; the plinth is crossbanded and line-inlayed with a ovoid panel and raised on bun feet with delicate convex and concave mouldings beneath the rectangular trunk door with cushion mouldings and D-ended boxwood panels to the top and bottom, centred by a ‘key-hole’ shaped panel. The trunk door is punch-numbered 28 to the leading edge of the upper cleat and the backboard is pasted with an interesting early label inscribed with instructions for regulating the pendulum. Convex throat moulding beneath the rising hood which has twist columns to the front and rear with the original (?) pierced walnut silk-backed frets to the sides; the moulded cornice above is set with a Knibb-type pierced walnut frieze fret. DIAL The fully latched 10 inch square gilt-brass dial is signed Tho: Tompion Londini Fecit within a rectangular reserve at the base interrupting the wheatear engraved border with Tompion’s wide winged cherub spandrels applied to each corner. The silvered chapter ring is engraved with Roman and Arabic chapters and sword-hilt half hour markers, typical Tompionesque hands beautifully pierced and sculpted and the finely matted centre has a calendar aperture and seconds ring beneath chapter XII. MOVEMENT The movement has six latched ringed baluster pillars; the two trains are reversed for month duration with the going train on the left side having anchor escapement with bolt-and-shutter maintaining power. The strike train has a large diameter brass countwheel positioned to the centre left on the backplate with steel trip lever to the side of the plates and hour strike on a bell above the plates; with the original seatboard and original(?) brass-cased month-duration weights, movement securing bracket to the backboard. Provenance Sotheby’s London, 19th April 1968 lot 244, sold for £4,800 The collection of the Late Geoffrey Heywood Esq. £4,800, the price Tompion No. 28 achieved in1968, can be favorably compared to Tompion No. 333which sold for £2,400 at Sotheby’s in June 1967. Literature Jeremy Evans, Jonathan Carter, Ben Wright, Thomas Tompion 300 Years, page 598