拍品專文
Daniel Quare (1646-1724) was one of the greatest clockmakers of his era. A Quaker by religion he is recorded as resisting various minor laws such as refusing to pay a rate for the maintenance of the Clergy and for refusing to pay charges for the up-keep of the Militia. Despite these minor indiscretions a picture emerges of a man full of character and with a shrewd business mind. His success is often compared to the guests at his daughter's wedding who included such dignitaries as the Envoys from Florence, Hanover and Prussia, the Earl of Orrery, the Duke of Argyll, the Duchess of Marlborough and the Prince of Wales.
As a strict Quaker Quare could not take the oath and this prevented him from being appointed Clockmaker to the king; nevertheless he was received at the Palace and made two barometers, one an angle barometer in walnut and another an ivory column barometer with folding feet, vide Cedric Jagger, Royal Clocks, London, 1983, pp. 53-55, figs. 71 & 72.
By comparing the few remaining walnut and ivory barometers by Quare that are known to exist, it would appear that Quare's ivory barometers were made in far fewer numbers. The last last known example was sold from The Samuel Messer Collection, in these Rooms, 5 December 1991, lot 13.
As a strict Quaker Quare could not take the oath and this prevented him from being appointed Clockmaker to the king; nevertheless he was received at the Palace and made two barometers, one an angle barometer in walnut and another an ivory column barometer with folding feet, vide Cedric Jagger, Royal Clocks, London, 1983, pp. 53-55, figs. 71 & 72.
By comparing the few remaining walnut and ivory barometers by Quare that are known to exist, it would appear that Quare's ivory barometers were made in far fewer numbers. The last last known example was sold from The Samuel Messer Collection, in these Rooms, 5 December 1991, lot 13.