AN EIGHT-DAY QUARTER-CHIMING LONGCASE CLOCKTHE MOVEMENT AND ...

Estimate

£1,000 - £1,500

AN EIGHT-DAY QUARTER-CHIMING LONGCASE CLOCKTHE MOVEMENT AND DIAL BY WILLIAM BARROW, LONDON, CIRCA 1720, THE CASE LATERThe substantial six finned pillar inside countwheel bell striking movement with plates measuring 7.75 inches by 6.5 inches and anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum, the quarter train with external countwheel and sounding on a graduated nest of six bells, the 12 inch brass break-arch dial with star decorated subsidiary seconds dial and calendar aperture to the Ho-Ho bird decorated matted centre, within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with fleur-de-lys half hour markers and Arabic five minutes beyond the outer minute track, with scroll pierced steel hands and mask and scroll cast spandrels to angles within a herringbone engraved outer border, the arch with silvered boss signed William Barrow, LONDON within conforming herringbone-banded border flanked by dolphin cast mounts, now in a brass mounted mahogany case with shaped scroll-pierced brass fret fronted removable concave-sided 'pagoda' pediment, over break-arch cavetto cornice, conforming arched brass fretwork frieze and hinged glazed dial aperture flanked by free-standing stop-fluted Corinthian columns with brass caps and bases, the sides with rectangular brass sound frets and quarter columns set against bargeboards at the rear, the trunk with concave throat moulding over break-arch flame-figured door applied with complex edge mouldings and flanked by Corinthian quarter columns also with bras caps and bases, on plinth base with conforming concave top moulding over shaped panel outlined front and moulded skirt.237cm (93.25ins) high including removable pediment, 215cm (86ins) high with pediment removed; 52cm (20.5ins) wide, 25.5cm (10ins) deep.William Barrow is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as apprenticed in 1700 and gaining his freedom of the Clockmakers' Company in 1710. It would appear that he supplied clocks for the Swedish market with a lacquer longcase residing in the Nordiske Museum, Stockholm and three more longcase clocks in the National Museum, also in Stockholm.

More Information

Movement is in fine clean working condition with no visible evidence of alteration or noticeable replacements although it is likely that a movement of this age will have has some minor service replacements. There is some evidence of historic rebushing and light peening of the backplate corresponding to some of the movement pillars are attached. The dial is in fine clean condition with the only noticeable faults being a small loss to the upper right-hand corner of the plate and a small casting fault (hole) behind the lower right-hand spandrel. The minute hand is probably a replacement. The movement retains what appears to be its original seatboard. The case is not original to the movement and is of later date (mid to late 18th century). The concave-sided pediment is removable and has saw marks along the lower edge together with two small veneer chips. The arch of the hood is now fitted with a curved top board onto which the pediment rests (if desired) - due to the thickness of this top board the pediment does not rest snugly. Case otherwise is in good original condition with faults limited to minor shrinkage cracking, other movement, minor bumps and scuffs, other slight age-related blemishes including a small loss to the base skirt moulding to the right-hand side.Clock has pendulum (probably non-original), two brass cased weights, a third lead weight, winder and a case key.