An important Charles II ebonised thirty-hour longcase clock William Raynes, York, circa 1678 The four finned and latched pillar outside countwheel bell striking two-handed movement with original anchor escapement and seconds pendulum fitted with a butterfly thumb-piece and small subsidiary bob for fine regulation, the 10 inch square gilt brass dial with calendar aperture to the delicate... More

An important Charles II ebonised thirty-hour longcase clock William Raynes, York, circa 1678 The four finned and latched pillar outside countwheel bell striking two-handed movement with original anchor escapement and seconds pendulum fitted with a butterfly thumb-piece and small subsidiary bob for fine regulation, the 10 inch square gilt brass dial with calendar aperture to the delicate symmetrical flowerbud and foliate engraved centre, within an applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with early pattern fleur-de-lys half hour markers and small Arabic five minutes to the outer track, with fine pieced steel hands, the angles confidently engraved with leafy sprays and with signature Will. Raynes in Yorke to lower edge, the ebonised pine caseof fine mellow colour with moulded cornice above plain frieze and spiral twist columns to hood, convex throat moulding and rectangular long door with unusual octagonal glazed lenticle to trunk, on plinth base with bun feet, 202cm (6ft 7.75ins) high. DESCRIPTION TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH ‘IMPORTANT NOTES REGARDING THE CATALOGUING OF CLOCKS’ printed in the sale catalogue or available from the auctioneers on request. Provenance: The property of a private collector. Exhibited TIME & PLACE English Country Clocks 1600-1840 The Antiquarian Horological Society at The Museum of the History of Science, University of Oxford, 25th November 2006- 15th April 2007 exhibit number 10. William Raines (Raynes) is recorded in Loomes, Brian The Early CLOCKMAKERS of Great Britain as being apprenticed in London to William Almond in November 1653. He gained his Freedom in January 1660/61. He initially worked from Butcher Row, East Smithfield taking on two apprentices; Joseph Sumner (in Jan. 1663/64) and William Beadle (in Jan. 1667/68). He is last recorded working in London in 1672 when it is thought that he moved up to York. He died in 1694 from a fall from his horse whilst returning from York to his home in nearby Gilling. The current lot appears to have survived in remarkably original condition. The movement retains all of its original wheelwork including the escapement, however as one would expect is showing some signs of wear. The backcock casting (complete with small casting fault) is a known London pattern used on other clocks of the period including an unsigned example with similarities to the work of John Wise senior illustrated in Darken, Jeff and Hooper, John English 30 Hour Clocks, Origin & Development 1600-1800 pages 59-63. The dial engraving echoes London work of the period although slightly differs in detail and feel to London practice, however is finely executed and is now complemented by the fine mellow colour of the dial itself. The calendar employs an engraved wheel rather than a calendar ring, this is perhaps one of the earliest examples of this detail (which became common practice in later Northern clocks) and allows the calendar aperture to placed higher up within the centre of the dial. The case is a very rare survivor as the pine construction makes it prone to dilapidation. The base is intact and, as with the rest of the case, of fine mellow colour. The trunk has a rare octagonal lenticle -often seen on cases housing movements by Edward East. The hood was originally of the rising variety (an easy restoration as little appears to have been altered) but may have originally had a crest. As the current lot can be confidently dated to the latter years of the 1670`s, it is reasonable to suggest that it is perhaps the earliest surviving longcase clock to be made in York.