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Click here to subscribeFrench ormolu and porcelain mounted two train mantel clock, the Japy movement stamped Mroy-Requier & Co, Paris.London, striking on a bell, within an ornate case decorated on the dial with romantic figures in a formal garden and inset with further floral panels, surmounted by a rounded arched pediment and Classical urn finial, 17" high (no pendulum)
English triple fusee skeleton clock, the movement playing on a nest of eight bells and striking the hours on a larger bell, the 8.25" silvered chapter ring enclosing a skeletonised centre, upon curving supports and stepped circular turned feet, under a brass bound glass case and upon a rectangular plinth base, 20" high overall, with pendulum (in need of restoration)
English mahogany double fusee verge bracket clock, the 7" convex cream dial signed William Harrison, Salisbury St. London, the movement with pull repeat and engraved back plate striking on a bell, within a rounded arched pad top stepped case surmounted by a carrying handle, 16" high (pendulum and keys)
Football Mario Kempes 27x18 approx mounted and framed signed colour photo. Mario Alberto Kempes Chiodi, born 15 July 1954 in Bell Ville, Córdoba is a retired Argentine footballer who played as a striker. His father, Mario, also a footballer, inspired him to play from a young age. At the age of seven he began playing with a junior team and at fourteen, he joined the Talleres reserves. A prolific goalscorer, at club level he is best known for playing for Valencia, finishing as La Liga's top goalscorer twice, and amassing 116 goals in 184 league games for the club. At international level, Kempes was the focal point of Argentina's 1978 World Cup win where he scored twice in the final, and received the Golden Boot as top goalscorer. He also won the Golden Ball for the player of the tournament, making him one of only three players to have won all three awards at a single World Cup, along with Garrincha in 1962, and Paolo Rossi in 1982. Good Condition. All signed pieces come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £3.99, EU from £5.99, Rest of World from £7.99.
Autographed 16 x 12 Limited Edition print, COLIN BELL, superbly designed and limited to 75 this print depicts a wonderful image of Bell in full length action with the ball at his feet during Manchester City's 1-0 victory over Aston Villa in the 1972 Charity Shield at Villa Park, signed to the lower border using a fine black marker. Good Condition. All signed pieces come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £3.99, EU from £5.99, Rest of World from £7.99.
Autographed 16 x 12 photo, MARSH BELL LAW 1973, a superb image depicting Manchester City's RODNEY MARSH, COLIN BELL and DENIS LAW posing for photographers shoulder to shoulder during a photo-shoot at Maine Road in 1973, signed by all 3 players using a black marker. Good Condition. All signed pieces come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £3.99, EU from £5.99, Rest of World from £7.99.
Autographed 16 x 12 Limited Edition print, COLIN BELL, superbly designed and limited to 75 this print depicts Bell being challenged by West Germany's Franz Beckenbauer during the infamous 4-3 World Cup encounter in 1970, signed, by Bell only to the lower border using a fine black marker. Good Condition. All signed pieces come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £3.99, EU from £5.99, Rest of World from £7.99.
Football Colin Bell 16x12 signed colour photo of the Manchester City legend regarded by many as there greatest ever player. Good Condition. All signed pieces come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £3.99, EU from £5.99, Rest of World from £7.99.
French 18k plunge repeating verge pocket watch, the sprung cuvette signed Vaucher á Paris, no. 7472, pierced balance bridge and silvered regulating dial, plunge repeat with hammer striking the bell to the inner case, enamel dial with Arabic numerals, plain case with a foliate band, 128.4gm, 55mm - Condition Report: - Movement - movement functioning, repeat striking but will require attention as not consistent on the strike and time. Dial - clean condition. Glass - light marks. Hands - light marks, minute hand tip broken off. Case - bruising to the case back visible, closes correctly. - Condition reports are provided for general guidance only. Please view images and further information can be obtained upon request. Gardiner Houlgate do not guarantee the working order or time accuracy of any lots. Due to the opening of the wristwatch case backs, it is recommended watches are re-sealed by professional technicians to ensure any stated water resistance is retained
Isaac Roberts, London - fine 18th century gold and enamel verge plunge repeating pair cased pocket watch, signed fusee movement, no. 1xx5, with pierced balance cock diamond endstone, silver regulating dial and cylindrical pillars with hammers striking the bell to the case, original signed dust cover, enamel dial with Roman numerals and outer Arabic chapter, pierced and engraved inner case with matching enamelled pair case depicting an exotic bird and foliage, diamond set release button, 46mm (movement at fault) - Condition Report: - Movement - not currently functioning and requires attention. Dial - surface marks present at the 7 position - see images. Glass - some surface marks present. Hands - matching. Case - no hallmarks present, inner case good, outer case has enamel losses - see images for guidance. - Condition reports are provided for general guidance only. Please view images and further information can be obtained upon request. Gardiner Houlgate do not guarantee the working order or time accuracy of any lots. Due to the opening of the wristwatch case backs, it is recommended watches are re-sealed by professional technicians to ensure any stated water resistance is retained
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Black Matte automatic gentleman's wristwatch, the circular black dial with Arabic quarter numerals, sweep centre seconds and date aperture within a black PVD finish square case, no. S-07692, rubber strap, 42mm - Condition Report: - Movement - currently functioning. Dial - good. Glass - good. Hands - good. Case - good. Crown - adjusting correctly. Strap - mild wear, but considered good. - Condition reports are provided for general guidance only. Please view images and further information can be obtained upon request. Gardiner Houlgate do not guarantee the working order or time accuracy of any lots. Due to the opening of the wristwatch case backs, it is recommended watches are re-sealed by professional technicians to ensure any stated water resistance is retained
An 18th century oak cased longcase clock, the moulded cornice above Ionic columns and a long trunk door, box base and plinth, the 30cm square dial painted with flowers to the corners, the dial with Roman numerals, a seconds subsidiary dial and calendar aperture, the eight day movement striking on a bell, 181.5cm high
A fine George III brass mounted mahogany table clock, Eardley Norton, London, circa 1790 The substantial five pillar twin fusee bell striking movement with unusual vertical crownwheel deadbeat escapement regulated by lenticular bob pendulum with banking pins and holdfast to the basket of flowers centred foliate scroll engraved backplate, the 7 inch gilt brass break-arch dial with recessed silvered calendar dial to the finely matted centre within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with Arabic five minutes to outer track, with pierced steel hands and fine foliate scroll pierced and chased gilt brass spandrels to angles beneath arch centred with silvered STRIKE/SILENT selection ring flanked by conforming mounts beneath curved silvered signature plate engraved EARDLEY NORTON LONDON to upper margin, the figured mahogany break-arch case with bow-fronted concave pyramid upstand and brass ball finials above brass fillet inset glazed door flanked by brass stop-fluted canted angles, the sides with sculpted hinged brass carrying handles over arched fishscale sound frets, the rear matching the front, on generous cavetto moulded skirt base with brass ogee bracket feet, 55cm (21.5ins) high. Eardley Norton was thought to have been born into a farming family from Rigsby, Lincolnshire, however he was apprenticed as a clockmaker 25 May 1743 to Robert Dawson of Alford. Latterly he moved to London where he is listed as working at 49 St. John’s Street, Clerkenwell between 1760 and 1794. He was member of the Clockmakers’ Company being freed in 1770 and remained a member until his death in 1792. He applied for a patent for a new type of striking mechanism for both clocks and watches on 31 August 1771. Norton enjoyed Royal patronage being perhaps best known for his silver mounted four-dial astronomical clock (made in collaboration with James Ferguson F.R.S.) commissioned by George III for Buckingham House (later Palace) which still remains in the Royal Collection (RCIN 30432). He married Mary Swinnerton of Oswestry and later retired to Stonegrove House (no longer existing), Little Stanmore, Middlesex, in the parish of Whitchurch. On his death, his business was taken over by the partnership of Gravell and Tolkien. He is buried at St. Lawrence's church in Little Stanmore.The current lot has noticeably thick plates, very generous heavy pillars and utilises an unusual form of deadbeat escapement configured with teeth set at ninety degrees to then rim.
A large gilt brass mounted ebonised quarter chiming bracket clock, unsigned, late 19th century The substantial four pillar triple chain fusee movement chiming a choice of two melodies on a graduated nest of eight bells and sounding the hour on a gong, with anchor escapement regulated by a lenticular bob pendulum and foliate scroll engraved backplate, the 8 inch arched brass dial with matted centre within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with fleur-de-lys half hour markers and Arabic five minutes to outer track, with pierced steel hands and foliate scroll cast gilt spandrels beneath arch incorporating subsidiary CHIME/SILENT and CHIME ON EIGHT BELLS/CAMBRIDGE CHIMES selection within conforming cast infill, the bell top case with flambeau urn finials and foliate swag cast mounts to superstructure over front with canted silvered fillet inset cast brass bevel-glazed hinged dial surround and winged cherub mask quadrant frets to upper margins, flanked by female caryatid mounts to the canted angles, the sides with generous foliate cast hinged carrying handles over sunburst decorated arched sound frets, the rear with brass grille inset rectangular door flanked by conforming caryatids, on generous cavetto moulded skirt base with scroll cast feet and foliate mount to apron, 70cm (27.5ins) high. Provenance: Nicholas Edwards Baron Crickhowell (1934-2018), Conservative MP for Pembroke 1970-87 and Secretary of State for Wales 1979-87.
A highly unusual thirty-hour longcase clock movement and dial with decorative skeletonized plates, unsigned, circa 1700 The four finned pillar two-train countwheel bell striking movement with off-set anchor escapement incorporating bent-strip form pallets for regulation by a seconds pendulum, the rectangular front and back plates decoratively pierced with a vertical stem issuing six symmetrical stylized tulip flowers with the centre of each bud carrying pivots for the going train on the right and strike train on the left, the centre with external countwheel indistinctly engraved James.., the 11 inch square brass dial with delicate leafy spray engraved centre and single pierced steel hand within 8.25 inch diameter Roman numeral chapter ring with stylized leaf decorated cruciform half hour markers, the angles with winged cherub head and foliate scroll cast spandrels (no pendulum or weight). The current lot is highly unusual in having decoratively pierced skeletonized plates. Their symmetrical design required the maker to carefully consider the planting of the trains which has resulted in a neat mirroring in their layout. The offset positioning of the escape wheel is a product of this approach; the pallet arbor however is neatly centred passing through an aperture created within a flower head at the apex of the stem.The use of pierced plates is extremely rare with the most notable makers being the Snow family of Padside, Pately Bridge, Yorkshire. In particular William Snow Senior, (1736 - 1795) produced skeletonised movements whereby any large blank areas of the plates were removed, melted down and reused. He ran a prolific workshop making over one thousand clocks, particularly 30-hour longcase clocks, which were serial numbered. Snow employed many local people in the production of movement parts as piece work, supplementing their farming income during the winter months. William’s sons, William junior and Richard also became clockmakers.Stylistically, with its finned and knopped pillars coupled with the distinctive ‘tulip’ theme to its pierced plates, the present movement arguably pre-dates the work of William Snow senior. Indeed when considering these features it would be reasonable to suggest a date of around 1700. With this in mind it is perhaps worth noting that in Hooper, John and Darken, Jeff English 30 Hour Clocks, Origin & Development, 1600-1800 the authors state that the Snow family can be traced back to 1655 (page 141, footnote 23). From this it may be reasonable to speculate that the current lot could possibly be connected to an earlier generation of the Snow family whose work is yet to be identified.
A fine French engraved gilt brass carriage clock with push-button repeat and chronometer escapement, Gontard and Bolviller, Paris, circa 1840-50 The eight-day bell striking movement with platform lever chronometer escapement incorporating helical sprung balance beneath yoke-shaped bridge, the backplate stamped with oval BOLLVILLER, A PARIS trademark and numbered W, 414, the rectangular white enamel Roman numeral dial with signature GONTARD ET BOLVILLER A PARIS beneath VI and fine blued steel Breguet style moon hands, the bevel glazed one-piece caddy moulded case with hinged faceted baton and baluster turned engraved carrying handle above large top glass and foliate scroll engraved trails to angles and edges, the rear with intensely engraved door decorated with hatched foliate strapwork and incorporating shutters for the winding and adjustment squares, on conforming cavetto moulded skirt base with recessed sections to angles, 13.5cm (5.25ins) high excluding handle. Bolviller is recorded in Allix, Charles and Bonnert, Peter CARRIAGE CLOCKS, Their history and development (page 432) as working from several addresses in Paris from 1830 until after 1870. Bollviller are known for being relatively early and inventive makers of fine French carriage clocks. Bolviller appears to have entered into partnership with C.P. Gontard in the 1840’s as a Brevet was granted to both makers for a lever chronometer escapement in 1848. Gontard went on to show carriage clocks in London 1851 and patent two further related escapements and produce carriage clocks under his name alone.
A scarce gold plated Atmos II timepiece, LeCoultre to a design by Jean-Leon Reutter, Switzerland, early 1940’s The single train movement wound via the expansion and contraction of an aneroid chamber mounted to the rear of the mechanism and regulated by torsion escapement with rotating balance suspended beneath, numbered 6909 to frontplate and numbered 8148 to suspension platform, the dial gilt Arabic numeral chapter ring inscribed with retailer’s signature NORTHERN GOLDSMITHS Co. at twelve o’clock opposing MADE IN SWITZERLAND to lower edge, the glass ‘bell jar' type case with canted angles, on plinth base with adjustable feet, 23.5cm (9.25ins) high.
Ï’An unusual French Louis Philippe rosewood wall clock, Henry Marc, Paris, circa 1840 The circular eight-day countwheel bell striking movement with anchor escapement and stamped with oval H'Y MARC, PARIS over serial number 15180 to backplate, the circular white enamel Roman numeral dial signed H'ry Marc, a Paris to centre and with trefoil pierced blued steel hands, the unusual waisted arch-top case with lift-off cover incorporating integral fixed brass bezel and thick bevelled glass over swollen sides and shaped glazed front panel enclosing 'gridiron' pendulum with rosette cast bob, the base with bracket of inverted ogee form formerly terminating with a pendant a finial which when pulled releases the cover securing catch (lacking), 40cm (15.75ins) high. An identical clock to the current lot (numbered 13525) was sold in these rooms on 20th September 2016 (lot 42) for £950 hammer. Ï’ Indicates that this lot may be subject to CITES regulations when exported. Please see our Terms & Conditions for more information.
A George III eight-day longcase clock movement and dial, William Clark, York, circa 1780 The for pillar rack and bell striking movement with anchor escapement for regulation by a seconds period pendulum and pump-action lever work for the subsidiary calendar, the 12 inch brass break arch dial with finely matted centre with large subsidiary seconds dial within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with Arabic five minutes to outer track and signed W’m Clark, York to lower margin, the angles with scroll cast spandrels beneath arch centred with subsidiary calendar ring flanked by dolphin cast mounts (no pendulum, weights or hands), 42.5cm (16.75ins) high. William Clark is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as working in York 1776-84. Clark is thought to have been apprenticed to Henry Hindley (circa 1700-71); the fine restrained proportions and detailing of the dial of the current lot certainly echoes Hindley’s approach.
Ï’ A brass mounted ebony table clock, the movement by Henry Jones, London, circa 1685-90 and later The six latched and finned pillar bell striking movement with verge escapement regulated by short bob pendulum and incomplete pull quarter-repeat mechanism, the single line-bordered symmetrical foliate scroll and tulip bud engraved backplate signed Henry Jones, in the Temple to a leafy scroll bordered cartouche to centre, now with a 6.5 inch square brass dial with matted centre within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with squat stylised fleur-de-lys half hour markers and Arabic five minutes within the narrow outer minute track, with pierced steel hands and winged cherub mask cast brass spandrels to angles, now in an ebony veneered case with hinged tied floral bud handle and foliate cast and pierced oval mount to the caddy surmount over ogee cornice top moulding and glazed front door applied with gilt foliate scroll escutcheons to jambs, the sides with conforming rectangular windows beneath lozenge-shaped sound frets, the rear with further rectangular glazed door set within the frame of the case, the base with shallow ogee moulded skirt over squab feet, 30.5cm (12ins) high excluding handle; with a fine 17th century scroll pierced and engraved winding key. Henry Jones is an important maker who is recorded in Loomes, Brian Clockmakers of Britain 1286-1700 as born to William Jones at Boulder, Hampshire in 1634. He was apprenticed to Edward East in August 1654 gaining his Freedom of the Clockmakers' Company in July 1663. Jones is thought to have initially worked as journeyman to Edward East before setting up on his own in the Inner Temple, London by 1772. In 1775 he is recorded as 'in Inner Temple Lane' prior to being appointed as an Assistant of the Clockmakers' Company the following year. Henry Jones was subsequently made a Warden in 1687 and finally served as Master of the Company in 1691. Amongst his many apprentices were Francis Robinson (freed 1707) and two of his sons, Henry (freed April 1678) and William (not freed). In 1692 Jones gave the Clockmakers' Company £100 'for the use of the poor'; he died in 1694 leaving his workshop in the hands of his widow, Hannah, who is known to have supplied clocks signed in her name. The engraving to the backplate of the current lot can be directly compared to a silent-pull quarter repeating timepiece by Henry Jones sold in these rooms on Tuesday 17th March 2015 (lot 88) where it is noted that the design and execution of the engraved decoration could be very closely compared to that of the only known table clock by Peter Knibb which is illustrated in Lee, Ronald A. The Knibb Family, Clockmakers (page 129, plate 139). Lee also illustrates (on the preceding page, plate 138) another closely related backplate for a clock by John Knibb, Oxford and notes that both have internal rack striking, which would suggest that each date from the mid 1680's. Ï’ Indicates that this lot may be subject to CITES regulations when exported. Please see our Terms & Conditions for more information.
A French gilt and lacquered brass ‘Capuchine’ alarm timepiece, unsigned, circa 1830 The four pillar single train movement with five-wheel train incorporating tic-tac escapement regulated by short pendulum with silk suspension contained within the case at the rear, the top left hand corner of the plates with alarm mechanism powered by a spring box wound via a pull-cord exiting the top plate above, the 2.5 inch circular convex white enamel Roman numeral dial with blued steel moon hands and arrow alarm setting pointer within a repeating lotus leaf milled gilt bezel, the rectangular box case with pivoted handle issuing from vase finial to the domed bell superstructure flanked by further brass finials to each corner and with R/A small regulation dial above dial to front, the sides and rear with hinged doors, on slender toupe feet, 21.5cm (8.5ins) high; with a purpose-made red velvet plinth and ebonised ogee moulded stand, 28cm (11ins) high overall.
A French gilt brass carriage clock with push-button repeat, unsigned, circa 1900 The eight-day bell striking movement with silvered platform lever escapement and stamped with serial number 654 to the lower right hand corner of the backplate opposing engraved initials Pq, the circular white enamel Roman numeral dial with blued steel moon hands set within a fine foliate scroll strapwork engraved gilt brass mask, the frosted gilt brass bevel-glazed case with hinged faceted carrying handle over canted angles to top mouldings and fine fluted pilaster corner uprights, on cavetto moulded plinth base with conforming canted angles and compressed bun feet, 14cm (5.5ins) high excluding handle.
A George I eight-day longcase clock movement with lunar calendar, Edward Cockey, Warminster, circa 1720 The five finned pillar movement with anchor escapement for regulation by a seconds pendulum and inside countwheel hour striking on a bell mounted above the plates, the 12 inch brass break-arch dial with calendar aperture and subsidiary seconds dial to the basket of flowers, Ho-Ho bird and fruiting trail bright-cut engraved and chased matted centre within applied Roman numeral chapter ring with stylised fleur-de-lys half hour markers, Arabic five minutes to outer track and signed Edward, Cockey, WARMINSTER to lower edge, the angles applied with female mask and scroll cast gilt spandrels within a herringbone engraved border, the arch with rosette engraved centre incorporating circular aperture to reveal a lunar disc representation of the age of the moon and steel pointer for the fixed silvered outer scale calibrated for the lunar month and flanked by dolphin and foliate cast gilt mounts within conforming herringbone surround, 42cm (16.25 ins) high. Born in 1669, Edward Cockey senior was the son of Lewis Cockey (a bellfounder and clockmaker working in Warminster) from whom it is believed that he subsequently learned the trade. Edward was clearly a talented and well-connected clockmaker who in 1707 made an extremely complicated astronomical clock for lord Weymouth for the Great Hall at Longleat. Weymouth is thought to have subsequently commissioned Cockey to make another example as a gift to Queen Anne for her drawing room at St. James`s Palace (now in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich). Edward Cockey junior was born in 1701 and, although initially thought to have followed in his father`s footsteps, apparently chose to become a wine merchant instead. There is a record of the death of an Edward Cockey clockmaker in 1768 (which probably relates to Edward junior). The dial of the current lot, with decorated centre and lunar calendar to arch exhibits Edward Cockey`s individual and innovative approach to both function and aesthetic quality.
ϒ A William III parquetry banded walnut eight-day longcase clock, Samuel Barrow, London, circa 1695-1700 The five finned pillar inside countwheel bell striking movement with anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum, the 11 inch square brass dial with subsidiary seconds dial, ringed winding holes and triple-crown decorated calendar aperture to the matted centre within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with stylised sword hilt half hour markers, Arabic five minutes to outer track and signed Sam. Barrow, Londini Fecit to lower margin, with scroll pierced steel hands and twin winged cherub and foliate scroll cast spandrels to angles with foliate scroll engraved infill to margins between, in a figured walnut case with parquetry chevron banded ogee cornice and scroll pierced fretwork frieze over conforming decoration to hood door applied with three-quarter columns to angles, the sides with rectangular glazed panels, the trunk with convex throat over 41.5 inch oval lentical centred book-matched veneered rectangular trunk door within parquetry banded surround, the sides each with three ebony and boxwood triple line bordered panels within crossbanded borders, the plinth base with ogee top moulding over panel veneered and banded front and moulded skirt incorporating bracket feet with shaped apron between, 207cm (81.5ins) high. Samuel Barrow is recorded in Loomes, Brian Clockmakers of Britain 1286-1700 as born in around 1674 and apprenticed to John Barrow in 1688 until 1695 gaining his freedom of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1696. He worked at the Spring Clock in East Smithfield near Hermitage Bridge, and was still active in 1704. ϒ Indicates that this lot may be subject to CITES regulations when exported. Please see our Terms & Conditions for more information.
A fine and potentially historically important George III mahogany striking table regulator, Thomas Mudge and William Dutton, London circa 1770 The nine-pillar twin fusee rack and bell striking movement with plates measuring 9.75 by 6 inches, massive spring barrels, Harrison’s maintaining power to the going train and now with half-deadbeat escapement regulated by half seconds pendulum with cylindrical brass bob, the foliate rococo scroll engraved backplate with arched recess to lower margin and applied with unusual twin scroll-shaped uprights attached via four knopped pillars and connected at the top via a complex bracket with slots cut to take a wide T bar pendulum suspension, the front plate of conforming dimensions inscribed William Dutton & Sons,London over the arched recess to lower margin, the 7.5 inch single sheet silvered brass Roman numeral dial with vacant calendar aperture and signed Tho’s Mudge, Will’m Dutton to centre, with Arabic five minutes to outer track and scroll-pierced blued steel hands, the break-arch case with hinged brass carrying handle and three generous moulded rectangular pads to top over glazed circular dial aperture over concave-topped recessed panel to front door, the sides with arched brass trellis sound frets, the rear with further glazed break-arch door set within the frame of the case, on cavetto moulded skirt base with brass squab feet, 38cm (15ins) high excluding handle. Provenance: The property of a private collector; purchased Sotheby’s, London sale of Good Clocks, Watches, Wristwatches, Barometers and Scientific Instruments, Thursday 5th March 1992 (lot 69). Thomas Mudge was born in Exeter, Devon in 1717 and was apprenticed to George Graham before setting himself up in business at 151 Fleet Street, London in 1748. At around the time of the death of his former Master in 1751, Mudge was joined in partnership by a fellow former apprentice of Graham, William Dutton, who is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as apprenticed in 1738 and gaining his freedom of the Clockmakers' Company in 1746.The business subsequently traded from 148 Fleet Street and Mudge, whilst in partnership with Dutton, rapidly acquired a reputation as one of England’s outstanding watchmakers. In around 1755, if not earlier, Mudge invented the detached lever escapement, which he first applied to a clock, but when incorporated into a watch became the greatest single improvement ever applied to them.In 1765 Mudge published the book, Thoughts on the Means of Improving Watches, Particularly those for Use at Sea, and the following year, alongside Dutton, was elevated to Liveryman. In around 1771 Thomas Mudge retired to Plymouth in order to spend more time to pursue his development of a marine timekeeper. The first of these went on trial in 1774 where it performed superbly leading to an award of 500 guineas. Mudge went on to complete two others in 1779 in the continuing attempt to satisfy the increasingly difficult requirements set by the Board of Longitude. They were tested by the Astronomer Royal, Nevil Maskelyne, and declared as being unsatisfactory. There followed a controversy in which it was claimed that Maskelyne had not given them a fair trial. A similar controversy had arisen when John Harrison had been denied the full amount of the 1714 prize by the Board of Longitude. Eventually, in 1792, two years before his death, Mudge was awarded £2,500 by a Committee of the House of Commons who decided for Mudge and against the Board of Longitude, then headed by Sir Joseph Banks.In around 1775 Dutton took both his sons (Thomas and Matthew) into the business forming a second partnership of William Dutton and Sons however the name Mudge and Dutton was often still used (mainly for watches) up to around 1790. William Dutton died in 1794 leaving the business to be continued very much in his tradition by his sons Thomas and Matthew. The work of William Dutton can be characterised by its distinctive originality, high quality and attention to detail which one would come to expect from a clockmaker who, alongside Thomas Mudge, succeeded George Graham who in turn had succeeded Thomas Tompion. The movement of the current lot appears to be a unique product of the Mudge and Dutton partnership. The provision of noticeably large diameter spring barrels coupled with a relatively shallow range of gearing to each of the fusees indicates that constant power delivery throughout the duration of the timepiece was off significant importance. This, together with the incorporation of maintaining power to the going train and delicate wheelwork, suggests that the movement was built with accuracy in mind. The highly unusual frame applied to the rear of the backplate indicates that a heavy pendulum (most likely compensated) was probably employed. In addition to this it has been suggested (by the late Charles Allix and Christopher Greenwood from evidence in the form of spare holes, slots etc. within the armature assembly) that, when first made, the current movement may well have employed a form of detached escapement. This possibility is further supported by the relatively low position of the original pallet arbor (in relation to the current escapewheel) which implies that the escapement itself was of highly unusual design and may well been positioned partly above the plates and connected to the pendulum suspended within the top frame of the armature to the rear of the backplate.The possibility of the current lot being originally made with a form of experimental detached escapement warrants further investigation and, if found to be the case, would identify the present timepiece as an example of significant historical importance. Indeed in the in the context of Mudge’s development of his detached escapement the current lot would sit between his famous balance lever table clock of circa 1760-65 (formerly in the possession of Isambard Kingdom Brunel now in the British Museum no. 1958,1006.2118) and his marine chronometers (the first of which was made in 1774). Furthermore, to the best of the cataloguer’s knowledge, this example would have also been the only clock from the Mudge and Dutton workshops to have been made with a detached escapement for regulation by pendulum. It is perhaps appropriate to mention that the late Charles Allix considered this timepiece to be of substantial historic importance and provided his views in a letter written to the vendor many years ago; regrettably this correspondence has been mislaid. When considering other details it is most probable that the current clock remained in the workshops of William Dutton and his successors for a significant time before essentially being ‘re-purposed’ and sold-on. Later work undertaken in the workshop included creating an arched profile to the lower margin of the plates - to allow the swing of the pendulum bob to be visible through apertures cut to the front of the case (including a fretwork overlaid glazed panel beneath the dial). The front upper margin of this arched cut-out was subsequently signed by William Dutton and Sons so this modification post-dates Mudges partnership in the business. In addition to this the original dial was overlaid with a white enamel dial which required the original dial feet to be shortened (and holes drilled to allow clearance the under dial pivot posts) and finally a relatively standard escapement was fitted. Subsequent to the clocks purchase in 1992 the later enamel dial has been removed and is no longer with the clock and the panel beneath the dial has expertly reinstated with fine figured veneer matching the rest of the case. Without a great deal of further work (mainly to the dial) the current lot could become a very attractive useable clock which, through further investigation, also has the potential to be identified (and subsequently restored) as an important example in the development of precision timekeeping.
A William III walnut and floral marquetry eight-day longcase clock, Daniel Quare, London, circa 1695 The five finned pillar inside countwheel bell striking movement with anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum and 11 inch square brass dial with ringed winding holes, subsidiary seconds dial and delicate repeating ring border decorated calendar aperture to the matted centre incorporating a conforming concentric band of rings around the centre hole, within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with stylised sword hilt hour markers, Arabic five minutes within the outer track and signed Dan: Quare, London to lower margin, with pierced blued steel hands and winged cherub mask and leafy cast spandrels to angles with foliate scroll engraved infill to margins between, in a case with ogee cross grain moulded cornice and plain frieze above hood door applied with Solomonic three-quarter columns to angles and veneered with floral trial marquetry, the sides with rectangular windows and conforming quarter columns applied to bargeboards at the rear, the trunk with flowerhead decorated convex throat above 41 inch door centred with a brass bordered lentical and decorated with marquetry bird inhabited flowering foliage around a central urn into a faded ebonised ground within line border, the surround with foliate wreath banding and the sides with two line-edged panels, the plinth base with stepped ogee top mouldings over conforming foliate decorated panel within wreath border, on shallow moulded skirt, 207cm (81.5ins) high. Provenance: The property of a gentleman. Labels pasted to the interior of the case indicate that the current clock was formerly in the collection of A.J. Colls of 125 Foxley Lane, Purley, Surrey; subsequently sold (by Order of his Executors) at Sotheby’s, New Bond Street, London, 26th March 1954 (lot 78) where it was purchased in the name of Alcock for £55 0 0. The current owner subsequently acquired the clock by private purchase on 25th June 1975 for £2,650.00. Daniel Quare is an important maker who is recorded on Loomes, Brian The Clockmakers of Great Britain 1286-1700 as born in Somerset circa 1647/8; by 1671 he had moved to London as he was admitted as a Free Brother to the Clockmakers' Company in April of that year. Quare initially worked in St. Martin's Le Grand, London (where he married in 1676) later moving to Allhallows, Lombard Street in 1681, before finally relocating to Exchange Alley where he is believed to have taken-on the former premises of Robert Seignior in around 1686. Quare was selected as a member of the Court of Assistants in 1698 later becoming Master in 1708. In 1709 he is believed to have taken his former apprentice, Stephen Horseman, into partnership which presumably lasted until Quare's death in 1724. Daniel Quare was a fine and inventive maker who supplied clocks and barometers to significant European Royal and aristocratic clients. As a committed Quaker he refused to sign the Oath of Allegiance in 1697, however as a much respected maker, he was still able to discreetly supply the court of William III.In around 1680 Quare made repeating watches to his own design which eventually lead him to dispute a conflicting patent filed by Edward Barlow in 1686; the resulting exchange two years to resolve.
A fine Queen Anne walnut eight-day longcase clock, ichard Street, London, circa 1705 The six crisply turned finned pillar inside rack and bell striking movement with bolt-and-shutter maintaining power and anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum incorporating long crutch, 12 inch square brass dial with subsidiary seconds dial, shuttered winding holes and calendar aperture to the matted centre within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with cruciform half hour markers, Arabic five minutes to outer track and signed Rich. Street, London to lower edge, with delicate pierced steel hands and unusual lambrequin cherub mask and foliate scroll cast spandrels to angles with foliate engraved infill between incorporating maintaining power lever to right hand margin, the walnut case with brass ball finials to the domed caddy surmounted fine foliate fretwork fronted box upstand above moulded cornice and further conforming foliate pierced fret to frieze, generous three-quarter columns with gilt caps and bases to the glazed hood door, the sides with rectangular windows and rear quarter columns each set against bargeboard rising up to the underside of the cornice projection, the trunk with convex throat above 42 inch rectangular door with figured book-matched veneers, the sides with twin line-bordered panels within crossbanded surrounds, the plinth base with ogee top moulding and conforming line-bordered crossbanded veneered panel to front over two-tier moulded skirt, 244cm (96ins) high excluding finials; 257cm (101ins) high overall. Richard Street is an important but relatively enigmatic maker who is recorded in Baillie G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as gaining his freedom of the Clockmakers' Company in 1687, made Assistant in 1713 and appointed Warden 1716. He was a fine maker who had close working connections with Thomas Tompion for whom it is thought he made repeating watch movements (see Evans, Jeremy THOMAS TOMPION at the Dial and Three Crowns page 114). Street is perhaps best known for his commission by Sir Isaac Newton to supply a monumental month duration longcase clock for presentation to Dr. Bentley for the Observatory at Trinity College Cambridge in 1708; he also, alongside William Wright, took over the maintenance of the turret clock at St. Pauls Cathedral from Langley Bradley in 1716. A year going clock in an Arabesque marquetry case by Street also survives in the Collection of the National Trust at Melford Hall, Suffolk. Tompion's influence/connection with Richard Street becomes apparent when the current lot is examined. The six pillar movement is very well made with the use of inside rack for the striking mechanism and the delicate functionality of the wheelwork echoing Tompion's standards. The dial is clean and refined in its design and utilises an unusual pattern of spandrel. The proportions, external detailing and choice of veneers used on the case can be compared to those supplied to Tompion, and again is very well made.
A fruitwood table timepiece, Thomas Taylor, Holborn, circa 1710 and later The five finned pillar single fusee movement with fine herringbone bordered asymmetric foliate scroll engraved backplate centred with a conforming oval reserve signed Tho. Taylor, in =Holborn, London, the 7 inch square brass dial now silvered and engraved with Roman numeral hours and Arabic five minutes enclosing later recessed basket of flowers engraved panel and original calendar aperture to centre, with pierced steel hands, the inverted bell-top case with hinged brass handle over cavetto top mouldings and glazed front door, the sides with rectangular windows, the rear with glazed door set within the frame of the case, on cavetto moulded shallow skirt base with moulded squab feet, (movement with losses, dial with alterations) 36cm (13.25ins) high excluding handle. Thomas Taylor junior is recorded in Loomes, Brian Clockmakers of Britain 1286-1700 was born in 1668 and apprenticed to his father (of the same name) from 1678 until 1685 when he gained his freedom of the Clockmakers’ Company. In 1697 Taylor signed the Oath of Allegiance and served as a Clockmakers’ Company Assistant from 1701; in 1707 he became a Warden and finally served as Master in 1710. He worked in the parish of St. Andrews, Holborn, London and died in around 1723. The current lot was originally made with ‘silent-pull’ quarter repeat hence would have only sounded the hours and quarters on demand only. Such timepieces were made for use in the bed chamber hence would have most likely been supplied to a particularly wealthy individual who could afford the luxury of having an additional clock for ‘upstairs’ use. The silent-pull mechanism has sadly been removed and the escapement converted from verge with short bob pendulum to anchor escapement with lenticular bob however the fusee, barrel, centre wheel and frame of the movement remains intact with no ‘butchering’ to the plates hence could be fully restored back to its original state by a suitable skilled horologist. In addition to this the dial plate has been ‘updated’ by removing the chapter ring, spandrels and matting to create a ‘single-sheet’ silvered dial which required a new chapter ring to be engraved directly into the plate and holes left over from the previous fittings filled. This modification would have most likely been done during the late 18th century in order to ‘update’ the appearance of the timepiece. The case, which appears original to the movement and dial, is of good quality and exhibits fine proportions and restrained mouldings reminiscent of cases housing movements and dials by leading makers such as George Graham
ϒA Queen Anne ebony table clock, George Etherington, London, circa 1710 The six finned pillar twin fusee bell striking movement with pivoted rise/fall rate adjustment beam to the pendulum suspension and backplate engraved with grotesque ‘Green Man’ mask, baskets of fruit and Ho-Ho bird inhabited symmetrical foliate strapwork around a central herringbone and husk swag bordered reserve signed Geo Etherington, LONDON, the 7.75 by 7 inch rectangular gilt brass dial with herringbone-edged shaped false bob and calendar apertures to the matted centre within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with fleur-de-lys half hour markers and Arabic five minutes to outer track, with pierced steel hands and gilt winged cherub mask cast spandrels to lower angles, the upper margin with scroll engraved spandrel infill interrupted by subsidiary vestigial alarm setting and regulation dials, each with complex rosette centres, flanking repeat signature Geo Etherington, LONDON, with S/N strike selection switch to upper margin, the ebony and ebonised case with hinged brass carrying handle and brass ball-and-spire finials to the domed caddy superstructure over front door and the sides with small horizontal rectangular scroll-pierced frets over larger conforming panels, the rear with rectangular glazed door set within the frame of the case, on cavetto moulded skirt base fitted with brass domed feet, (movement with losses, case with significant replacements to veneers and mouldings and other faults), 39.5cm (15.5ins) high excluding handle. George Etherington is recorded in Loomes, Brian Clockmakers of Britain 1286-1700 as being made a Free Brother of the Clockmakers' Company in 1684 having previously being apprenticed to Robert Rooksby possibly in Newcastle-on-Tyne or York. In 1689 he moved from the 'Dial in Fleet Street' to 'against the New Church in the Strand', London. In 1697 he signed the Oath of Allegiance and became an Assistant of the Clockmakers' Company in 1701, Warden in 1706 and finally Master in 1709. He attended until at least 1720 and is thought to have died in 1729. ϒ Indicates that this lot may be subject to CITES regulations when exported. Please see our Terms & Conditions for more information.
ϒA fine William III brass mounted ebony table clock with pull-quarter repeat, Brounker Watts, London, circa 1690-95 The six finned pillar twin fusee inside rack bell striking movement with verge escapement regulated by short bob pendulum and pull-quarter repeat on a single smaller bell, the backplate engraved with tulips and symmetrical scrolling foliage around a herringbone bordered lozenge-shaped reserve signed Brounker Watts, Londini Fecit, the 6.5 inch square gilt brass dial with high position calendar aperture and ringed winding holes to the finely matted centre within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with trident half hour markers and Arabic five minutes within the narrow outer track, with sculpted blued steel hands and angles applied with gilt winged cherub head spandrels with engraved repeat signature Broun: Watts London to lower margin opposing N/S strike/silent selection lever to upper margin, the ebony veneered case of Knibb ‘phase III’ type with scroll outline foliate-bud tied hinged gilt brass carrying handle to the domed caddy surmount applied with cast foliate scroll pierced mounts to front and sides flanked by later pineapple finials, over ogee moulded cornice and foliate scroll pierced lozenge sound fret to the upper rail of the front door, the uprights with unusual twin mask and winged scroll cast gilt escutcheon mounts, the sides with lozenge sound frets over rectangular windows, the rear with rectangular glazed door set within the frame of the case, on ogee moulded shallow skirt base, 32cm (12.5ins) high excluding handle. Brounker Watts is recorded in Loomes, Brian Clockmakers of Britain 1286-1700 as born in around 1670, he was apprenticed to Joseph Knibb from 1684/5 until 1691 and gained his freedom of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1693/4. In around 1695 he married Ursula Walford and in 1696 he is recorded as working from Fleet Street, London. His name is on the company’s Oath of Allegiance which was signed the following year. In 1698 Watts was living in the parish of St. Dunstan in the West and is recorded as avoiding stewardship of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1711 due to being ‘out of town’. Brounker Watts died in 1717 and was buried in his home parish of St. Dunstans in the West. When the current lot compared with examples by Joseph Knibb strong similarities become apparent. In particular the layout and detailing within the movement which, other than the use of standard finned pillars secured by pins and the signature, one could be quite forgiven for mistaking it for an example by Knibb himself. The attention to detail within the mechanism, such as decoratively sculpted scroll feet to the hammer springs/stops, shaped stopwork blocks and deeply domed collets, is particularly noteworthy and demonstrates Watts’s desire to maintain the quality of finish demanded by his master. The dial layout reflects Knibb’s work also with high position calendar aperture although the ringing to the winding holes is a departure by Watts away from Knibb’s preference for plain winding holes. The case is essentially a ‘textbook’ example of Knibb phase III design and can be directly compared to that of a timepiece illustrated in Lee Ronald A. The Knibb Family * Clockmakers on page 87 (plate 84). Notwithstanding this there are a couple of very slight differences; the first is the handle whose distinctive scroll design was actually favoured by Daniel Quare, the second are the door escutcheon mounts which at first glance appear to be of Knibb type however they differ in detail by incorporation twin masks (rather than a single) in each as well as feathered wings within the upper and lower extensions (not present in the typical Knibb castings).The current lot generally presents as a fine honest original example which is fresh to the market having been in the same family for as long as anyone can remember. This coupled with strong connections to one of the most important workshops of the ‘Golden Age’ of English clockmaking renders it worthy of inclusion in the finest of collections. ϒ Indicates that this lot may be subject to CITES regulations when exported. Please see our Terms & Conditions for more information.
A George III green japanned eight-day longcase clock with moonphase, Richard Wills, Truro, circa 1780 The four pillar rack and bell striking movement with anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum, the 12 inch brass break-arch dial with subsidiary seconds dial and calendar dial to the square rigged sailing ship, beached hoy and scroll engraved silvered centre engraved Rich. Wells, TRURO, within Roman numeral chapter ring with Arabic five minutes to outer track, with scroll pierced steel hands and rococo scroll cast spandrels to angles beneath arch with rolling moonphase incorporating landscape engraved lunettes, age of the moon and HIGH WATER AT GUERNSEY ISLAND times to the upper margin, in a green japanned case with gilt floral and radial fan painted pagoda upstand over geometric band decorated break-arch cavetto cornice and trellis banded hood door applied with three-quarter columns to front angles, the sides with rectangular windows and conforming quarter columns set against bargeboards at the rear, the trunk with floral trail painted throat over break-arch door decorated in raised polychrome and gilt with oriental figures within a stylised garden trellis landscape over square rigged warship, the surround with abstract foliate scroll painted upper quadrants and geometric banded borders, the sides with large leafy sprays, the plinth base with naturalistic landscape and now incorporating bracket feet with shaped apron between, 216cm (85ins) high. Richard Wills is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as working in Truro, Cornwall circa 1777-95.
A rare George II ebonised pine cased weight-driven alarm wall timepiece, Joseph Kirk, Nottingham, circa 1730 The four-wheel going train with anchor escapement incorporating offset pallets and regulated by 25 inch pendulum set between rectangular plates united by three steel square section pillars alongside the verge alarm mechanism sounding via a vertically pivoted hammer on a bell mounted above, the 6 inch square brass dial with alarm setting disc and single iron hand within applied Roman numeral chapter ring with minute ring to inner track and diamond lozenge half hour markers, the case with 10.25 inch square caddy moulded ebonised pine dial surround fronting a bracket with top panel between the backboard and the dial surround over removable side panels and curved bracket supports fitted to the backboard beneath incorporating inverted onion-shaped lower margin, the case 35.5cm (14ins) high. Joseph Kirk is recorded in Loomes, Brian Clockmakers of Britain 1286-1700 as Quaker born in the parish of Hardstoft, Derbyshire in 1673; by 1708 he was in Skegby, Nottinghamshire where he took in an apprentice, Robert Willis, in 1723. By 1731 Kirk had moved to Nottingham where he took in a further apprentice, Patrick Cock; he was succeeded by his daughter, Anne, who married Samuel Piggott in 1738/9 and lived until 1786. The current lot is similar in feel to the only two known examples by James Woolley of Codnor which are illustrated in Darken, Jeff (editor) TIME & PLACE, English Country Clocks 1600-1840 on pages 180-81 and 238 respectively.
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