Canterbury Auction Galleries
Lot 798
An Important Early 19th Century Mahogany Longcase Regulator, by Barwise of London, the 12ins diameter silvered dial with Roman and Arabic numerals, with central seconds over hour dials, within outer minute track, blued steel hands, to the eight day single train movement with six heavy turned pillars, the back plate with end stops and jewelled palettes, the metal pendulum rod with mercury compensated pendulum bob, single brass cased weight, contained in figured mahogany case inlaid with ebony stringings, with arched hood, glazed trunk door, panelled base, on plinth support, 73ins high Note: John Barwise 'Chronometer, Watch & Clock Makers to their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of York, Kent, Cumberland & Gloucester' 29 St Martin's Lane, London. John Barwise was the son of a clockmaker from Cockermouth. He is recorded as working in London from circa 1790, a fine maker of clocks, chronometers and watches. In 1805 he was one of fifteen watchmakers selected by the board of Longitude to adjudicate in the dispute between Thomas Earnshaw and John Arnold. His sons, John II and Weston joined the firm and between 1819 and 1823 they traded as Barwise & Sons. Shortly after, the firm obtained a Royal Warrant as watchmakers to King George IV. John Barwise senior died in 1820. The business continued in the partnership of his sons, but Weston died in 1826, leaving it in the hands of John II alone.
