Lot Essay
There has been much discourse and conjecture over Thomas Tompion's early clockmaking years. Very ocasionally another early example by Tompion appears and provides a little more imformation.
This example is interesting not only because of its pretty size but also because once again it shows a certain amount of involvement with another clockmaker. The two most obvious examples are the setting for the hour hand and the external set-up clicks, both are features characteristically used by Henry Jones, 1642-1695. An almost identical example of Jones's early-type set-up clicks is illustrated 0p. cit, pl.439, the clincher being the anchorage point for the springs. An example of Jones's hour hand setting is illustrated op. cit. pl.448 with its Maltese cross setting. Both these examples typify Jones's work but there is a conspicuous absense of any of his other characteristic work such as the half five minute punch markers on the chapter ring, the bell mounting or his own peculiar countwheel decoration. In fact as far as one can ascertain the rest of the clock is in Tompion's hand.
The dial has some very obvious Tompion-type features not least the pin-hole calendar adjustment. The peculiar folded winged cherub spandrels are of the type used on the two blued steel miniature timepieces, the Lonsdale Tompion No.23 and its virtual twin No. 21 in the Fitzwilliam museum. The only other example being an unnumbered miniature timepiece with pull repeat illustrated in R.W. Symonds Thomas Tompion his life and work, pp.1487 & 224, figs. 171 & 230. Within the movement the pillars are standard, the barrels however have a flanged cover, a feature normally associated with much earlier spring clocks circa 1665 typified by makers such as Samuel Betts and Edward East. The strike-work is fairly typical but sadly the original escapement has been altered to anchor which, due to the lack of room between the plates, has been planted on the backplate. It would almost certainly have had a verge escapement and the clue to its position lies in the shape of the fly. The backplate has a well executed linear signature and typical simple numbered countwheel.
This example is interesting not only because of its pretty size but also because once again it shows a certain amount of involvement with another clockmaker. The two most obvious examples are the setting for the hour hand and the external set-up clicks, both are features characteristically used by Henry Jones, 1642-1695. An almost identical example of Jones's early-type set-up clicks is illustrated 0p. cit, pl.439, the clincher being the anchorage point for the springs. An example of Jones's hour hand setting is illustrated op. cit. pl.448 with its Maltese cross setting. Both these examples typify Jones's work but there is a conspicuous absense of any of his other characteristic work such as the half five minute punch markers on the chapter ring, the bell mounting or his own peculiar countwheel decoration. In fact as far as one can ascertain the rest of the clock is in Tompion's hand.
The dial has some very obvious Tompion-type features not least the pin-hole calendar adjustment. The peculiar folded winged cherub spandrels are of the type used on the two blued steel miniature timepieces, the Lonsdale Tompion No.23 and its virtual twin No. 21 in the Fitzwilliam museum. The only other example being an unnumbered miniature timepiece with pull repeat illustrated in R.W. Symonds Thomas Tompion his life and work, pp.1487 & 224, figs. 171 & 230. Within the movement the pillars are standard, the barrels however have a flanged cover, a feature normally associated with much earlier spring clocks circa 1665 typified by makers such as Samuel Betts and Edward East. The strike-work is fairly typical but sadly the original escapement has been altered to anchor which, due to the lack of room between the plates, has been planted on the backplate. It would almost certainly have had a verge escapement and the clue to its position lies in the shape of the fly. The backplate has a well executed linear signature and typical simple numbered countwheel.