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Lot Essay
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
Dawson, Drover & Parkes, Early English Clocks, Woodbridge, 1982; Jeff Darken (ed.), Horological Masterworks, Ticehurst, 2003; Van den Ende, van Kersen, van Kersen-Halbertsma, Taylor & Taylor, Huygens' Legacy, The Golden Age of the Pendulum Clock, Frome, 2004; Ronald Lee (ed.), The First Twelve Years of the English Pendulum Clock, 1969; Eric Bruton, The Wetherfield Collection of Clocks, London, 1981
Dating from the early years of the pendulum clock and with an architectural case typical of the period, this clock displays a number of features which are typical of East's workmanship and also shows similarities with the work of other contemporary clockmakers.
The movement uses tall flanged barrels with pinned front caps and trains winding anti-clockwise with indirect drive from the centre to floating motion work. A similar movement by East is shown in Dawson, Drover and Parkes (p.109). Movements of this type by makers such as East, Henry Jones and John Hilderson generally employ large turned baluster pillars (see D,D & P pp.86-87, 111, 513) which are riveted to the front plate and pinned through the back plate. The double waisted square section pillars on the present movement are extremely unusual. They may be a transitional feature. Shaped square section pillars are more commonly associated with earlier horizontal table clocks and with watches of the period. Ahasuerus Fromanteel used plain square section pillars, similar to those found on early Dutch pendulum clocks, on a c.1659 table clock and on a c.1660 longcase movement (Masterworks, pp.33 & 36); whilst a table clock by Samuel Bartram also dating from c.1659 has tapering square section pillars (p.29). The method of securing the pillars to the back plate with steel screws is also very unusual and may be a consequence of their design; with their fine waisted centre sections they would not have lent themselves well to being riveted.
Similar quarter striking work, incorporating a pivoted perpendicular bell stand, is used on other clocks of the period, including another one by East (D,D & P, p.109) and another by Hilderson (Lee, pl.66). The bells stands are rocked by a forked lever embracing the minute wheel which carries a cam to bring the small bell in line to strike the quarters and the large bell in line for the hours. This allows the hours and quarters to be struck using a single train.
The dial is also interesting, with its use of all over engraving. Dial plates at this time were more commonly matted, with a central rosette. However, other examples with all over floral engraving are known. These include an example by Samuel Knibb (D,D & P, p.161), a night clock by Hilderson (Masterworks, p.53) and another Hilderson table clock (Lee, pl.64). Two East table clocks (D,D & P, pp.85 & 174) also have engraving, albeit different from that of the present clock. Each instance of engraving uses a different style, with no pattern being adhered to, suggesting that at this stage in the evolution of the clock dial patterns had yet to be formalised.
Dawson, Drover & Parkes, Early English Clocks, Woodbridge, 1982; Jeff Darken (ed.), Horological Masterworks, Ticehurst, 2003; Van den Ende, van Kersen, van Kersen-Halbertsma, Taylor & Taylor, Huygens' Legacy, The Golden Age of the Pendulum Clock, Frome, 2004; Ronald Lee (ed.), The First Twelve Years of the English Pendulum Clock, 1969; Eric Bruton, The Wetherfield Collection of Clocks, London, 1981
Dating from the early years of the pendulum clock and with an architectural case typical of the period, this clock displays a number of features which are typical of East's workmanship and also shows similarities with the work of other contemporary clockmakers.
The movement uses tall flanged barrels with pinned front caps and trains winding anti-clockwise with indirect drive from the centre to floating motion work. A similar movement by East is shown in Dawson, Drover and Parkes (p.109). Movements of this type by makers such as East, Henry Jones and John Hilderson generally employ large turned baluster pillars (see D,D & P pp.86-87, 111, 513) which are riveted to the front plate and pinned through the back plate. The double waisted square section pillars on the present movement are extremely unusual. They may be a transitional feature. Shaped square section pillars are more commonly associated with earlier horizontal table clocks and with watches of the period. Ahasuerus Fromanteel used plain square section pillars, similar to those found on early Dutch pendulum clocks, on a c.1659 table clock and on a c.1660 longcase movement (Masterworks, pp.33 & 36); whilst a table clock by Samuel Bartram also dating from c.1659 has tapering square section pillars (p.29). The method of securing the pillars to the back plate with steel screws is also very unusual and may be a consequence of their design; with their fine waisted centre sections they would not have lent themselves well to being riveted.
Similar quarter striking work, incorporating a pivoted perpendicular bell stand, is used on other clocks of the period, including another one by East (D,D & P, p.109) and another by Hilderson (Lee, pl.66). The bells stands are rocked by a forked lever embracing the minute wheel which carries a cam to bring the small bell in line to strike the quarters and the large bell in line for the hours. This allows the hours and quarters to be struck using a single train.
The dial is also interesting, with its use of all over engraving. Dial plates at this time were more commonly matted, with a central rosette. However, other examples with all over floral engraving are known. These include an example by Samuel Knibb (D,D & P, p.161), a night clock by Hilderson (Masterworks, p.53) and another Hilderson table clock (Lee, pl.64). Two East table clocks (D,D & P, pp.85 & 174) also have engraving, albeit different from that of the present clock. Each instance of engraving uses a different style, with no pattern being adhered to, suggesting that at this stage in the evolution of the clock dial patterns had yet to be formalised.