Lot Essay
Thomas Tompion, 1639-1713, born at Northill, Bedfordshire, had moved to London by 1671 and become 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 and from which 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
The remarkably well preserved condition of this clock is probably due to its highly privileged past. It can be seen that not only the sound frets, but also the finials are original and that virtually the only discrepancy is on the plinth where a 'water-mark' betrays the possible presence of a second skirt. The movement and dial of the clock have also survived with virtually no alterations and could usefully be used as an academic comparison with other Tompion longcase clocks from the same period that might not have survived so well.
Queen Victoria was the daughter of the Duke of Kent (third son of George III) and succeeded her uncle, King William IV in 1837. She could not however automatically succeed to the Hanoverian Crown, a title that would rightfully have been the hers were it not for a ruling that it could only be inherited by a male heir. Consequently in 1837 Queen Victoria's uncle, the Duke of Cumberland (fourth son of George III) became King Ernest August of Hanover (1837-1851). He was then succeeded in 1851 by his son King George V of Hanover who married Princess Alexandrine, eldest daughter of His Highness Duke Joseph of Saxe-Altenburg; their daughter was The Princess Frederica Sophie Marie Henriette Amalie Therese of Hanover (1848-1926) who married Baron Alfons Von Pawel-Rammingen in 1880
When Hanover was annexed by Prussia in 1866 and King George V deposed, much of the Royal family moved to England and it would seem that the young Princess Frederica became one of Queen Victoria's favourites. An interesting sketch, dated 1884, (The Royal Archives) depicts Queen Victoria and Princess Frederica at Osborne seated intimately together at a table playing cards. This fondness might therefore explain why she so generously gave this Tompion longcase clock to a relative who was as distantly related as her first cousin once removed.
The remarkably well preserved condition of this clock is probably due to its highly privileged past. It can be seen that not only the sound frets, but also the finials are original and that virtually the only discrepancy is on the plinth where a 'water-mark' betrays the possible presence of a second skirt. The movement and dial of the clock have also survived with virtually no alterations and could usefully be used as an academic comparison with other Tompion longcase clocks from the same period that might not have survived so well.
Queen Victoria was the daughter of the Duke of Kent (third son of George III) and succeeded her uncle, King William IV in 1837. She could not however automatically succeed to the Hanoverian Crown, a title that would rightfully have been the hers were it not for a ruling that it could only be inherited by a male heir. Consequently in 1837 Queen Victoria's uncle, the Duke of Cumberland (fourth son of George III) became King Ernest August of Hanover (1837-1851). He was then succeeded in 1851 by his son King George V of Hanover who married Princess Alexandrine, eldest daughter of His Highness Duke Joseph of Saxe-Altenburg; their daughter was The Princess Frederica Sophie Marie Henriette Amalie Therese of Hanover (1848-1926) who married Baron Alfons Von Pawel-Rammingen in 1880
When Hanover was annexed by Prussia in 1866 and King George V deposed, much of the Royal family moved to England and it would seem that the young Princess Frederica became one of Queen Victoria's favourites. An interesting sketch, dated 1884, (The Royal Archives) depicts Queen Victoria and Princess Frederica at Osborne seated intimately together at a table playing cards. This fondness might therefore explain why she so generously gave this Tompion longcase clock to a relative who was as distantly related as her first cousin once removed.