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Lot Essay
Thomas Tompion 1639-1713, born at Northill, Bedfordshire, had moved to London by 1671 and became a Brother of the Clockmakers' Company by redemption. In 1674 he moved to Water Lane and met Dr.Robert Hooke through whom he came to the notice of Charles II. From this time he held an unrivalled position in English horology. In 1703 he was Master of the Clockmakers' Company. He died aged 74 and is buried in Westminster Abbey.
Thomas Tompion's reputation both when he was alive and now, was based on excellence; his clocks were always made to an exceptional and consistently high standard. It is true to say that Tompion's standard clocks were made to a higher quality than most of his contemporaries' best quality timepieces. From the small number of surviving clocks we can determine that Tompion made less than half as many longcase clocks as he did bracket or spring clocks and consequently they are far more scarce. Tompion's longcase clocks were always elegant in their proportion and refined in detail, and the present clock is a quintessential example. The proportions still retain the slender feminine lines that were soon lost when fashions changed after about 1705. The colour of the veneers, particularly on the trunk door and plinth is superb. The plinth itself is untouched except for the small skirt board which still retains the original moulding to its top. The dial is instantly recognisable by his eponymous sword hilt half-hour markers and the bold yet delicately pierced blued steel hands. Tompion's matting has a particularly tight and even appearance which is a handsome feature of his own making. Always thinking of ways to help his clients, he cut two tiny pin-hole nicks in the sides of the calendar aperture to help the owner to adjust the calendar ring at the rewinding of the clock at the end of each month. Longcase movements often appear more simple than spring clocks movements. Much of this is due to the absence of any fusees and also to the extra room inside a longcase clock hood, which allows the plates to be made taller and for the wheel train to be spread out. Tompion's movements were always refined even in places that no client would ever see. The cannon pinion bridge had carefully chamfered edges, as did all the levers in the movement, steel bell stands and springs were given characteristic chamfered tails and the dial feet and pillars always had latches that were robust and practical.
Tompion's constant drive for excellence earned him a reputation that brought long and loyal Royal patronage. In turn this brought a long list of wealthy clients - clients who have become the discerning collectors of today.
Thomas Tompion's reputation both when he was alive and now, was based on excellence; his clocks were always made to an exceptional and consistently high standard. It is true to say that Tompion's standard clocks were made to a higher quality than most of his contemporaries' best quality timepieces. From the small number of surviving clocks we can determine that Tompion made less than half as many longcase clocks as he did bracket or spring clocks and consequently they are far more scarce. Tompion's longcase clocks were always elegant in their proportion and refined in detail, and the present clock is a quintessential example. The proportions still retain the slender feminine lines that were soon lost when fashions changed after about 1705. The colour of the veneers, particularly on the trunk door and plinth is superb. The plinth itself is untouched except for the small skirt board which still retains the original moulding to its top. The dial is instantly recognisable by his eponymous sword hilt half-hour markers and the bold yet delicately pierced blued steel hands. Tompion's matting has a particularly tight and even appearance which is a handsome feature of his own making. Always thinking of ways to help his clients, he cut two tiny pin-hole nicks in the sides of the calendar aperture to help the owner to adjust the calendar ring at the rewinding of the clock at the end of each month. Longcase movements often appear more simple than spring clocks movements. Much of this is due to the absence of any fusees and also to the extra room inside a longcase clock hood, which allows the plates to be made taller and for the wheel train to be spread out. Tompion's movements were always refined even in places that no client would ever see. The cannon pinion bridge had carefully chamfered edges, as did all the levers in the movement, steel bell stands and springs were given characteristic chamfered tails and the dial feet and pillars always had latches that were robust and practical.
Tompion's constant drive for excellence earned him a reputation that brought long and loyal Royal patronage. In turn this brought a long list of wealthy clients - clients who have become the discerning collectors of today.