JOSEPH KNIBB, LONDON: AN IMPORTANT CHARLES II EBONY MINIATURE LONGCASE CLOCK

Details

JOSEPH KNIBB, LONDON: AN IMPORTANT CHARLES II EBONY MINIATURE LONGCASE CLOCK
circa 1682-85
The well proportioned convex moulded case with plinth on bun feet, eagle head escutcheon to rectangular trunk door with three raised panels and hung directly on the sides of the case, similar panels to the sides, spoon-and-clip rising hood with twist columns supporting a typical pierced wood frieze fret, the shallow domed top with five turned wood ball finials, the 8in. square dial signed Joseph Knibb Londindi fecit to the base interrupting the acanthus engraved border, silvered chapter ring, the matted centre with calendar aperture below XII, finely executed blued hands, winged cherub spandrels, latches to the dial feet and a six ringed pillar small movement with anchor escapement, outside countwheel strike, bolt-and-shutter maintaining power, secured by spurs through base pillars and bracket to backboard, with restoration; with ivory handled key and R A Lee The Knibb Family Clockmakers, 1964, signed edition No. 9
5ft.4in. (162.5cm.) high (3)

Provenance

Lionel Moore, Esq.
Bought from R A Lee, 28 June 1955, (2100

Literature

R W Symonds, The Rare Grandmother Clock, Country Life Annual, 1955, pp.84-87, fig. 4 & 6
F J Britten, Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers, 7th ed. revised Baillie, Clutton & Ilbert, 1956, p.112, pl.71
H A Lloyd, The Collector's Dictionary of Clocks, 1964, p.101, fig.259
R A Lee, The Knibb Family, Clockmakers, 1964, pl. 55 & 57
P G Dawson, C B Drover & P W Parkes, Early English Clocks, 1982,
pl.345, p.253

Exhibited

British Clockmakers' Heritage Exhibition, No.110
Science Museum, 1952

Lot Essay

Joseph Knibb, b.1640, apprenticed to his cousin Samuel ca.1655, removed to Oxford ca.1662 and Free of that City 1668, removed to London 1670 and made Free of the Clockmakers' Company, Steward 1684, Assistant July 1689, removed to Hanslop, Bucks, 1697, d.1711

There are but two known examples of miniature or "grandmother" clocks by Joseph Knibb. True miniature clocks are exceedingly rare and prized among collectors, principally because their unique proportions make them eidal for bedrooms or small closets that lead off chambers. Indeed this clock was until very recently set up in a dressing room.
The only other miniature Knibb longcase clock has an olivewood and floral marquetry case and is pictured next to the ebony clock in pl.55, R A Lee The Knibb Family, Clockmakers. Although shown to be smaller in the photograph it is in fact 1in. higher. The ebony clock is of rather happier proportions than the marquetry one which has a comparatively broad plinth. Interestingly the ebony clock is illustrated with a skirted plinth which has now been restored. The scaled down movement is equally well proportioned and the provision of maintaining power demonstrates Knibb's excellence even when working at this scale.

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