Thomas Tompion, London; see biographical notes lot 29
As is well known, Tompion established himself quickly in London and soon developed his own particular style of clockmaking. R A Lee, however, has made the observation that in the first few years after Tompion's arrival in London and before he began his numbering system, he produced a number of clocks in a decidedly Knibb style which shows, if not actual collaboration between the two makers, a strong influence at work on the younger Tompion. The present clock would appear to be a case in point, since the system of Roman striking was invented by Knibb and the dial is typically Knibbish with its skeletonised chaper ring. In fact, this clock is very similar to a Joseph Knibb month going Roman striking ebony longcase of circa 1678 (vide R A Lee, The Knibb Family, Clockmakers, pl.19 & 43) with the same swag mount above the dial. Knibb used this mount on a number of clocks around this date, whereas Tompion's only other use of it contemporary with the present clock is on the astrolabe clock in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. He did use it later, circa 1700, for the Drayton year going equation clock and a grande sonnerie walnut longcase, No.131. The fine double swag mount betwen the hood and trunk is confined to this clock and Knibb's walnut longcase made for the Duke of Lauderdale at Ham House. The Drayton clock and the Lauderdale clock also have a gilt frieze with the same corner cupids as the giltmetal frieze to the present clock