Canterbury Auction Galleries
Lot 371
A late 17th/early 18th Century Dutch oak and marquetry longcase clock by Bernard Van der Cloesen of The Hague, the 12ins square brass dial with wide silvered chapter ring with Roman and Arabic numerals, the matted dial centre with turned winding holes showing phases of the moon and calendar work and with cast brass cherub's head spandrels to the eight day two train five pillar movement with alarum, Dutch striking on two bells, contained in oak and marquetry case inlaid with birds, ribbon and trailing leaf and floral motifs, the hood with stepped pagoda top and plain turned pillars to hood, the trunk door with oval lentical, on plinth base, 90ins high, Note : Bernard van der Cloesen (ante 1650-1736) was born in Emmerik and having been married in the Hague, became a citizen of the city in 1688. With the establishment of the Clockmaker's Guild in 1688 he became Warden and later Master. In 1699 succeeded Lubbertus van der Burgh as City Clockmaker for the Hague, being succeeded by one his sons, also Bernard, in 1735. In 1694 van der Cloesen made Christian Huygens last clock for measuring longitude at sea. See Dr. R. Plomp, Spring Driven Dutch Pendulum Clocks 1657-1710 Schiedam 1979 for illustrations.
