John Browne, London

Circa 1675

Sold

9 ¼ inches high

A rare and very original miniature brass lantern timepiece with alarm. Case. The case has four ringed pillars to the corners resting on ball feet and surmounted by urn finials, original brass doors to the sides and bell above on detachable straps Dial. The 4 ½ inch square brass dial is signed J. Browne London on the chapter ring with Roman chapters and sword hilt half hour markers, single blued steel hand, foliate engraved centre with original alarm disc, spandrels to the four corners. Movement. The going train has the original verge escapement with original bob pendulum and original alarm with clapper sounding on the bell above John Browne was a fine clockmaker; he was born circa 1648 and made free in 1668. He took 6 apprentices over his ensuing 30 working years, culminating in being made Master of the Clockmakers' Company in 1681. From 1690 he was recorded as excused attendance of the Court “in regard of his age and inability of going much” (i.e. walking). In 1701 he received charitable payments from the Company, his death is not recorded. There seem to be very few clocks extant signed John Browne leaving to the presumption that he may have been a jobbing clockmaker making for other netter-known London clockmakers. The present clock has a very charming nature, it is small and nicely compact and most important of all it is almost entirely original through case, dial and movement.