Lyon & Turnbull
Lot 69
FINE MAHOGANY AND GILT BRASS MOUNTED LONGCASE CLOCK FOR THE SPANISH MARKET, ROBERT AND PETER HIGGS, LONDON18TH CENTURY the arch moulded hood above an arched brass dial with silvered Roman and Arabic chapter, subsidiary seconds dial and date aperture, signed 'Roberto y Pedro Higgs/ Londres/, the arch with a TOCAR/SILENCIO dial, with brass spandrels to the corners and arch, the hood door with a gilt brass bezel and flanked by gilt brass reeded columns with brass capitals, above bridge top trunk door flanked by gilt brass reeded quarter columns, on a plinth base with a moulded panel flanked by further gilt brass reeded quarter columns, raised on ormolu foliate cast rococo style feet; the five pillar eight day movement striking on two bells58cm wide, 244cm high, 29cm deepNote: The father and son partnership of Robert and Peter Higgs produced clocks of extremely high quality, evidenced by Peter being made master of The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1767. They are recorded working from Sweetings Alley in London and had important customers in Spain, where they are known to have supplied clocks to the King. The present clock, made for the Spanish market, has 'Tocar/Silencio' in the arch for Strike/Silent as well as the Higgs' names changed to 'Roberto and Pedro' rather than Anglicised Robert and Peter.
