Tennants Auctioneers
Lot 1399
A Fine Late 17th Century Walnut Small Eight Day Longcase Clock, signed Joseph Knibb, London, circa 1690, the case with spiral twisted columns, (re-converted) back to rising hood, pierced frieze fretwork and surmounted by a later carved floral cresting, glazed side viewing windows, top of the backboard with a rising hood coiled spring and lever, rectangular trunk door with matching veneers and with moulded border, re-built plinth raised upon a moulded skirting, 10-inch square brass dial signed `Joseph Knibb, London` positioned below 6 o`clock, silvered chapter ring with Roman and Arabic numerals and typical trident half hour markers, finely engraved with floral decoration between the winged cherub spandrels, matted dial centre with date aperture below 12 o`clock position, finely pierced and sculpted blue steel hands, latches to the dial feet and to the five ringed pillars of the movement, anchor escapement, outside countwheel positioned to the movement backplate and striking on a bell, 199cm high Case backboard with a label inscribed Temple Newsam House Leeds, Exhibition of English Clocks 1949, No.21. This clock is recorded in the catalogue of Exhibition of English Clock 1600-1850, September 3rd - October 9th 1949, No.21. The catalogue states A William and Mary longcase clock by Joseph Knibb London, circa 1690, in a oak case with walnut veneer, formerly in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge and Lent by Harold Wildsmith Baxter, Esq. Harold Wildsmith Baxter was one of the great post war collectors of Early English Clocks. Sold together with a photocopy of the Exhibition of English Clocks catalogue entry No.21. Joseph Knibb, the most famous and inventive member of the celebrated Knibb clockmaking family, was born in 1640. In 1655 he was apprenticed to his cousin Samuel and after serving seven years he worked first at Oxford and then moved to London in 1670, where he was made Free of the Clockmaker`s Company. Records show he supplied a turret clock for Windsor Castle in 1677 and payments were made to him in 1682 by King Charles II. Towards the end of the 17th century Joseph Knibb moved to Hanslop in Buckinghamshire. By the early 18th century Knibb had virtually retired and he died in December 1711.
