Sworders
Lot 598
A George III mahogany longcase clock,by John Holmes, London, with a white enamelled dial and strike/silent, inscribed to the dial ‘Holmes, 156 Strand, London’, enclosing an eight-day movement, striking the hours, surmounted with a finial, with an arched top, fish scale side panels, and an arched case door with original receipt to the door,41cm wide25cm deep215cm highJohn Holmes worked from 156 Strand in London between 1761 and 1802. Holmes was regarded as one of the finest clockmakers of his time and F J Britten comments 'he seems to have been one among the leading mechanicians and when the turret clock at Greenwich Hospital was destroyed by fire in 1779, he was given the order for a new one. The Wetherfield Collection contains two long mahogany case clocks of his manufacture, one a particularly choice example of Chippendale dating from about 1770'. The Ludlum pendulum was used by Holmes and enabled the user to make very fine adjustments, and in turn, gave improved timekeeping.Condition report: Case: front has discolouration to concave surface of moulding beneath hood. Veneer on carcass around arched top of door with multiple cracks and jagged split. Veneer on door has extensive shallow cracking and small splits. Also some apparent later added colouration. Lower flame veneered panel has multiple vertical cracks which appear unslightly. Back of case has long vertical split and signs of old woodworm. Two wing pieces replaced at some stage. Moulding piece detached from one side but present. Hood - top split in two places. Both sides have splits emanating from top of brass grill 'windows', one side more pronounced.Dial: chip to right winding hole. Brass spandrels and flat plan backplate quite tarnished and original lacquer perished.Backplate: both main drum holes have been alternately rebushed (raised bush) and 'hammered'. Both weights very tarnished.
