Details
A DOCUMENTED GEORGE II EIGHT-DAY WALNUT LONGCASE CLOCK
george graham, london no. 681, 1728
The 12in. sq. dial with silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring with lozenge half-hour markers, typical pierced blued steel hands, the finely matted center with subsidiary seconds ring, pin-hole adjusted calendar aperture and signed on an oval plaque Geo. Graham. London, Indian mask-and-foliate spandrels interrupting the foliate-engraved border with repeat signature at the base, bolt-and-shutter maintaining power lever between chapters II and III, latches to the dial feet and six pillars of the movement with rectangular plates, Graham's deadbeat escapement and original gilt-brass pendulum rod of rectangular section with calibrated rating nut, rack striking on a bell above, the backplate stamped 681 at the base, the case with foliate-carved giltwood finial to the caddy top with later foliate pierced wood frieze soundfrets supported on brass-capped ¾-columns, the rectangular trunk door twice punch numbered 681 on the leading inside top edge, the door reverse pasted with an equation table and with another smaller label describing some of its provenance, feather-banded sides and quarter-veneered plinth; sold with it's original dated and signed receipt
97in. (246cm.) high
Provenance
Robert Cay, 1649-1754, of North Charlton Hall, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, by whom bought directly from the maker in 1728 for 16gns.
John Cay, son d. 1782
Robert Hodson Cay, his son, who sold North Charlton Hall
John Cay of Edinburgh, his son, whose widow Geddes Cay left it to;
William Dyce Cay, a cousin who sold his interest in the clock in February 1910 for 4 10s. to his sister, Margaret (Rita) Cay, d. 1921
Isabella Cay, Mrs Dunn, her sister, d. November 1934
Elaizabeth Mary Dunn, Mrs Giles, her daughter
Isabel Giles, d. 1975
Her son thence for sale;
Christies, London, lot 64 17 July 1985 for £30,240 ($45,500)
Anthony Woodburn, Antiquarian Horology, No. 1, Vol. 19, Autumn 1990, pp. 6+7
