A Charles II ebony and gilt-brass mounted striking eight day table clock with pull quarter repeat and alarm

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A Charles II ebony and gilt-brass mounted striking eight day table clock with pull quarter repeat and alarm

EDWARD BURGIS, LONDON. CIRCA 1680

Details

A Charles II ebony and gilt-brass mounted striking eight day table clock with pull quarter repeat and alarm
Edward Burgis, London. Circa 1680
The case with gilt brass ringed handle to the cushion moulded top also applied with repoussé foliate mounts, urn finials to the corners, elaborate gilt-brass foliate escutcheons to the front door, rectangular glazed panels to the sides, the front door with later ebony fret to the top rail, inside rear door applied with a retail plaque for JAMES OAKES/HOROLOGIST/LONDON. S.W.I./NO.2301, on later block feet, the 7 in. square dial with winged cherub spandrels, silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring with trident half hour markers, the matted centre with silvered alarm disc, two strike/silent levers above for the strike and alarm, latches to the dial feet and to the seven ringed pillars, twin line and fusees for the going and strike trains, going barrel for the alarm, restored knife-edge verge escapement, pull repeat on two bells with hour strike on a further larger bell, the alarm assembly mounted within the plates and striking on the hour bell via a double-headed hammer, the backplate engraved with foliage and tulips and signed Edwardus Burgis Londini fecit, the movement secured with turn catches to the reverse of the dial and with a brass post to the seatboard, also with two later brass catches on the seatboard; two case keys, winding key
12½ in. (32 cm.) high, handle down

Provenance

Christie's London, Important Clocks and Marine Chronometers, 6 July 2001, lot 64

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 15% on the buyer's premium

Lot Essay

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
Dawson, Drover, Parkes Early English Clocks, Woodbridge, 1982, p.454, pl.662 and pp.392-395, pls.557-563
Dawson, Drover and Parkes show a slightly later (c.1695) table clock with alarm by Burgis of closely related design. In particular, both clocks show Burgis' ingenious method of setting the alarm crown wheel into the front plate. The proportions of the present clock, notably the shallow moulded top, are reminiscent of the cases being produced by Joseph Knibb during his 'Phase II' period (1675-80).
Little is known of Burgis (also Burgess). Loomes records him as Free of the Clockmakers' Company circa 1665 and married in 1670, to the sister of Francis Clement.

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