Johannes Fromanteel

Circa 1670

Sold

23 inches high

A very fine and important olivewood and ebonised striking turntable clock. The case is comprised of an oak carcass veneered with olivewood to the four sides; the top has a fine shallow-mounded dome set with a ‘secret' sliding key drawer in the right side, with four ebonised ball finials to each corner and a larger central finial to the top; the cornice has a drip moulding above the foliate- pierced olivewood sound fret gallery, glazed sides to the body with ebonised twist columns flanking the sides, rotating on a purpose-made turntable base on ebonised bun feet. The 9-inch square brass latched dial has finely cast winged cherub spandrels to the corners of the silvered chapter ring with Roman hours and Arabic five-minute outer markers with trident half hour markers, with finely pierced blued steel hands the matted centre is set with a calendar aperture below XII, shuttered winding holes. The movement comprises tall brass plates conjoined by seven ring-turned latched pillars; the going train with large spring barrel and fat fusee with wire lines terminating with a knife- edge verge escapement with the original bridgecock and bob pendulum. The strike train with large barrel, fat fusee and gut lines, the Arabic numbered brass countwheel engraved with a central rosette striking on a bell mounted above the plates. The backplate is beautifully engraved with a symmetrical display of foliage and tulip heads centred by the signature Johannes Fromanteel Londini Fecit within a foliate cartouche