Dreweatts 1759
Lot 191
AN INTERESTING PROVINCIAL PARQUETRY DECORATED WALNUT SMALL THIRTY-HOUR LONGCASE CLOCKMAJOR SCHOFIELD, ROCHDALE, CIRCA 1750, THE CASE PROBABLY EARLIERThe four pillar two-handed countwheel bell striking movement with Huygens endless rope winding and anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum, the 10.25 inch square brass dial with calendar aperture and dummy winding holes to the rococo scroll and floral spray engraved centre signed Major, Schofield, ROCH,DALE to centre, within applied Roman numeral with foliate scroll half hour markers and large Arabic five minutes beyond the arcaded minute ring incorporating text Tempus Fugit to upper margin, with scroll pierced blued steel hands and applied figural cast 'four seasons' spandrels to angles, in a case with generous ogee cornice and plain frieze over hinged glazed dial surround applied with Solomonic twist three-quarter columns to front angles, the sides with small rectangular windows and conforming quarter columns set against bargeboards at the rear, the trunk with slender rectangular door centred with a 'bullseye' lenticle set a moulded surround between two parquetry star motifs within line-edged crossbanded surround and half-round cross grain mouldings, the plinth base with stepped ogee top moulding over conforming parquetry star-centred decoration to front and moulded skirt.202cm (79.5ins) high, 49.5cm (19.5ins) wide, 27cm (10.27ins) deep. Major Schofield senior is recorded in Loomes, Brian Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World, Volume 2 as born in 1707 and working in Manchester, Salford and Rochdale until his death in 1783, He was succeeded by his son of the same name. The case of the current lot is notable in that the form and design echoes that of London work of around 1680, in particular details such as Solomonic twist columns and rear bargeboards rising up into the cornice to the hood, convex throat mouldings and large parquetry motifs around a lenticle to the trunk (see Robinson, Tom THE LONGCASE CLOCK page 92). This would suggest that either the case is either a late 17th century 'provincial' model following slightly earlier London practice or, if was made at the same time as the movement and dial, was executed in an 'archaic' style. Condition Report: Movement is complete and in reasonably clean working order. The mechanism appears very original with no obvious replacements. The pinions show wear and all wheel above the greatwheels have been moved along the arbor slightly to ensure engagement with a unworn part of the next pinion in the train. This is a traditional sensitive repair to enable the clock be to used without having to replace pinions. The bell and stand appear to be replacements and there is some noticeable hammering around the lower lower right movement pillar to the backplate. The dial is in relatively clean condition and is complete with calendar mechanism. The right hand false winding square has been bent a little to endure correct alignment with its hole and one of the cartwheel spokes has an old rivet repair. The hour hand is a replacement and the spandrel securing screws have been renewed other wise faults are limited to light uneven oxidation.The case is constructed with elm carcass except for the trunk door which is pine. The backboard has a cut just above the top of the throat moulding and a separate section (in elm) also fitted via a lap joint to the inside surface continuing up to dress the rear of the hood. Although this appears to be a later repair the colour of the timber (where visible) as well as the way in which the top of the principal part of the backboard is dressed would indicate that it was done a very long time ago. The seatboard appears equally ancient/original to the movement and is secured to uprights (also in elm) which are applied to the inside of the side of the trunk which terminate at throat level. This detail is very similar in its execution as to the panel applied to the backboard suggesting that they were done at the same time. The back panel and seatboard have an old wash of black paint. The hood is in fine original condition with faults essentially limited to shrinkage cracking and small losses to the sides around the glazed apertures following the lines of the joints within the carcass beneath. The inside rear edges of the hood also have a black wash, the rear edges (behind the bargeboards) have been rubbed back suggesting that the may have been fitted with tongues for rising in grooves cut into the upper part of the original backboard.The trunk is generally in fine condition although the backboard has historic worm damage, losses and splitting towards the lower edge requiring a bracing panel to be fitted over the back pf the plinth. Otherwise the structure of the plinth appears all original and in sound condition with the exception of the skirting which is a fairly recent replacement. There is no evidence to suggest the clock was ever fitted with bun feet. The veneers and mouldings are generally in fine original condition. The left hand side of the trunk has an oval patch insert which was required to fill a scoop cut into the inside surface of the carcass to allow for the pendulum swing. The right-hand side has a similar scoop which is not deep enough to affect the veneers on the exterior. The centre of these scoops is each approximately 7cm below the centre of the lenticle. Otherwise faults are limited to historic small losses to the veneers, relatively light age-related shrinkage and other blemishes. The trunk door retains its original lock and hinges.Clock has a lead weight, pendulum (rod snapped at the junction with the rod block) and a case key.Useful dimensions;Hood - depth between inside edge of frame around dial and the backboard - 15.5cmHood - height between bottom edge of front glass and the upper edge of the seatboard - 6cmHood - dimensions of front glass - 25cm wide, 26cm highHood - height of lower edge of the side glasses from the upper surface of the chin - 13cmHood and Trunk - distance between lower edge of the hood front glass to the centre of the lenticle - 74cm Condition Report Disclaimer
