A WILLIAM III EIGHT-DAY LONGCASE CLOCKTHOMAS STUBBS, LONDON,...

Estimate

£1,200 - £1,800

A WILLIAM III EIGHT-DAY LONGCASE CLOCKTHOMAS STUBBS, LONDON, CIRCA 1700The four finned pillar inside rack striking movement with anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum, the 11 inch square brass dial with calendar aperture and subsidiary seconds dial to the matted centre within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with cruciform half hour markers, Arabic five minutes beyond the outer minute track and signed Tho: Stubb, London to lower margin, with scroll pierced steel hands and the angles applied with unusual spandrels cast as opposing trumpeting angels within foliate scrollwork, in a case now veneered in walnut with ogee architectural cornice and scroll-pierced frieze over hinged glazed front applied with Solomonic twist three-quarter columns to front angles, the sides with rectangular windows and conforming quarter columns set against bargeboards at the rear, the trunk with convex moulding over 42 inch door now applied with quartered veneers around a central brass lenticle and with applied half-round crossgrain mouldings to edges, on conforming plinth base with stepped ogee top moulding and bun feet, (the case formerly ebonised).203cm (80ins) high, 51.5cm (20.25ins) wide, 28cm (11ins) deep.Thomas Stubbs is recorded in Loomes, Brian Clockmakers of Britain 1286-1700 as apprenticed to John Lyon of Warrington and was made a Free Brother of the Clockmakers' Company in 1685 as a 'great clockmaker' (maker of turret clocks). He did not sign the oath of allegiance in 1697 but paid quaterage until at least 1798; he died in 1738.The movement and dial of the present lot demonstrate a high-quality approach both through the use of an internal-rack for the strike mechanism, and restrained detailing to the dial. Indeed the engraving to the chapter ring echoes the work of Thomas Tompion and the spandrel castings are particularly unusual, if not unique.

More Information

Movement is in relatively clean working condition with no visible evidence of alteration or noticeable replacements other than the escapewheel and pallets which look to be 19th century service replacements which have necessitated the backcock to be moved downwards slightly. There is some historic rebushing and a gentle clean/service is advised if intending to put into long term service. The dial is in fine condition with only slight oxidation to the silvering; hands appear undamaged. The movement rests on what appears to the original seatboard (but with a loss to the board along the rear edge to one side of the pendulum cut-out). The movement rests at the correct level in the case (seatboard lines-up with scribed line on the backboard) however there are packing slips applied to the top edges of the cheek uprights indicating that adjustment has taken place in the past. As catalogued the veneers of the case are later and the carcass is pine with a dark stain suggesting the case was originally ebonised or scumbled. All mouldings are also later but are crossgrain. The applied cornice structure and the outer skins of the base are probably also replacements executed at the same time as the walnut veneers otherwise carcass appears 'period' and is in good condition. The case is generally very presentable but with some age-related bumps, scuffs, shrinkage and wear; the lenticle glass is cracked.Clock has pendulum, two weights (one is missing its hook) but no case key or winder.