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Lot Essay
During the 18th century longcase clocks with astronomical indications were only made in Friesland and Amsterdam. The production of these clocks must have been small as so few of them have survived. In his book De Nederlandse staande klok, Mr. J. Zeeman mentions that only twelve astronomical clocks are known to exist. Some of these clocks are illustrated in De Nederlandse staande klok, including the present lot. The Swaan dial differs greatly from the other examples which typically have a painted dial surmounted by a second chapter ring with astronomical indication. According to Zeeman the movement of the Swaan clock is also different from the other clocks he mentions. The Pieter Swaan clock is dated 1735, five years earlier than the earliest of the "standard" astronomical clocks made in Amsterdam.
Very little is known about Pieter Swaan. Zeeman has found only scarce information amounting to: 1670? - 17?? Amsterdam, active in 1690 and 1742; his workshop was situated on the Leliegracht in Amsterdam.
Enrico Morpurgo records some eight clocks by Pieter Swaan in Nederlandse klokken en horlogemakers vanaf 1300. Two of these refer to the present lot, namely kalenderklok, voormalige coll Dreesmann, Amsterdam, and uurwerk tent Hoe laat was het? MWH, 1956. It is possible that Dr Anton C.R. Dreesmann purchased the clock either at the auction of the collection of his father in 1960, or at the Antiekbeurs, Delft in 1961.
Amongst the five remaining longcase clocks mentioned, one is in the Museé Royaux de Belgique, Brussels, two came to auction respectively at Mak in Dordrecht in 1949 and at Mak van Waay in Amsterdam in 1954, one is in Het Corvershof at the Nieuwe Herengracht in Amsterdam and the fifth is in possession of the Stichting Hervormd Weeshuis in Amsterdam.
As we have no record of when, or where W.J.R. Dreesmann acquired the present lot, it is possible that he did so at one of the two above-mentioned auctions.
Very little is known about Pieter Swaan. Zeeman has found only scarce information amounting to: 1670? - 17?? Amsterdam, active in 1690 and 1742; his workshop was situated on the Leliegracht in Amsterdam.
Enrico Morpurgo records some eight clocks by Pieter Swaan in Nederlandse klokken en horlogemakers vanaf 1300. Two of these refer to the present lot, namely kalenderklok, voormalige coll Dreesmann, Amsterdam, and uurwerk tent Hoe laat was het? MWH, 1956. It is possible that Dr Anton C.R. Dreesmann purchased the clock either at the auction of the collection of his father in 1960, or at the Antiekbeurs, Delft in 1961.
Amongst the five remaining longcase clocks mentioned, one is in the Museé Royaux de Belgique, Brussels, two came to auction respectively at Mak in Dordrecht in 1949 and at Mak van Waay in Amsterdam in 1954, one is in Het Corvershof at the Nieuwe Herengracht in Amsterdam and the fifth is in possession of the Stichting Hervormd Weeshuis in Amsterdam.
As we have no record of when, or where W.J.R. Dreesmann acquired the present lot, it is possible that he did so at one of the two above-mentioned auctions.