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Lot Essay
The two subsidiary dials on the present clock, particularly the pendulum locking dial, are an unusual feature on Daniel Quare's clocks. Similar examples with pendulum locking, although in these cases with four subsidiary dials, were sold Christie's London, 4th June 2009, Lot 81 (£94,850) and again these rooms, 11th December 2002, Lot 76 (£77,675). There is also a similar example illustrated in the Weatherfield Collection (p. 96, pl. 36). The large scale of this clock suggests it was intended for a royal residence from the outset. A similar sized movement, again with pendulum locking was sold in these rooms, 22nd March, 1989, Lot 45 and another large slightly later example, 22 inches high, with ornate ormolu mounts, with R.A. Lee (Antiquarian Horology, Winter 1989, Vol. 18, No. 4, p. 366). A clock of similar scale, 17 inches high, with two subsidiary dials can be seen in Windsor Castle (Jagger, Royal Clocks, p. 53, pl. 70)
Daniel Quare (c.1649-1724) is one of the most eminent names in English clockmaking from the golden age of horology. Famous for his repeating work in watches, and his fine, high quality clocks, examples of Quare's clocks can be found in the British Museum and in the Royal Collection. He was made free of the Clockmakers' Company on 3rd April 1671, moving to Exchange Alley in 1683-86. In 1698 he was admitted to the Court of assistants of the Clockmakers' Company and was made Junior Warden in 1705. He became Master in 1708.
George I offered Quare the post of King's Watchmaker. However, like Thomas Tompion, Quare was a Quaker and his strict religious beliefs prevented him from signing the necessary Oath of Allegiance. Nevertheless he enjoyed regular royal patronage and the King allowed him access to the Palace at any time. Quare's reputation was not confined to Britain however, and his royal commissions spanned the continent. Indeed further evidence of Quare's international success can be seen from the list of guests at his children's weddings which included important members of society from Venice, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Prussia and Florence, and interestingly, when one notes the provenance of the present clock, Hanover. The royal provenance of this clock proves the strength of appeal that good English makers, such as Quare, had to the continental aristocratic market.
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
Cedric Jagger, Royal Clocks, The British Monarchy and its Timekeepers 1300-1900, London, 1983, P. 53, Pl. 70
Hans van den Ende, Dr John Taylor, et alia, Huygen's Legacy, The Golden Age of the Pendulum Clock, Isle of Man, 2004, P. 234
Eric Bruton, The Weatherfield Collection of Clocks, A Guide to Dating English Antique Clocks, London, 1981, P. 96, Pl. 36
Daniel Quare (c.1649-1724) is one of the most eminent names in English clockmaking from the golden age of horology. Famous for his repeating work in watches, and his fine, high quality clocks, examples of Quare's clocks can be found in the British Museum and in the Royal Collection. He was made free of the Clockmakers' Company on 3rd April 1671, moving to Exchange Alley in 1683-86. In 1698 he was admitted to the Court of assistants of the Clockmakers' Company and was made Junior Warden in 1705. He became Master in 1708.
George I offered Quare the post of King's Watchmaker. However, like Thomas Tompion, Quare was a Quaker and his strict religious beliefs prevented him from signing the necessary Oath of Allegiance. Nevertheless he enjoyed regular royal patronage and the King allowed him access to the Palace at any time. Quare's reputation was not confined to Britain however, and his royal commissions spanned the continent. Indeed further evidence of Quare's international success can be seen from the list of guests at his children's weddings which included important members of society from Venice, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Prussia and Florence, and interestingly, when one notes the provenance of the present clock, Hanover. The royal provenance of this clock proves the strength of appeal that good English makers, such as Quare, had to the continental aristocratic market.
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
Cedric Jagger, Royal Clocks, The British Monarchy and its Timekeepers 1300-1900, London, 1983, P. 53, Pl. 70
Hans van den Ende, Dr John Taylor, et alia, Huygen's Legacy, The Golden Age of the Pendulum Clock, Isle of Man, 2004, P. 234
Eric Bruton, The Weatherfield Collection of Clocks, A Guide to Dating English Antique Clocks, London, 1981, P. 96, Pl. 36