Lot 139
139
A Queen Anne walnut and faux boulle six-month going longcase clock
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
A Queen Anne walnut and faux boulle six-month going longcase clock

UNSIGNED. CIRCA 1710

Details
A Queen Anne walnut and faux boulle six-month going longcase clock
Unsigned. Circa 1710
The monumental case of excellent proportions with skirted plinth and walnut veneered sides, painted to the front in pink, gold and black on a cream ground with geometric strapwork and foliage, the trunk door painted in similar colours with a geometric Arabesque foliage and strapwork design inhabited with wonderful birds, storks, parakeets and also butterflies, the base of the door painted with a house within an oval reserve, glazed brass framed lenticle, foliate carved giltwood volute trusses to the painted concave moulding beneath the hood with similarly painted gilt-wood capped three-quarter columns, the foliate pierced gilt-wood sound frets beneath the concave moulded caddy top with similar paintwork and surmounted by three ball-and-spire finials, the 13 in. sq. brass dial with silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring with sword hilt half hour markers and delicately pierced blued steel hands, the finely matted centre with subsidiary seconds ring (lacking hand), the movement with thick brass rectangular plates secured by six massive latched pillars, the wheel train with delicate anchor escapement and twin weight drive from two barrels and two large brass-cased weights
9ft. 1in. (274cm.) high
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

The case of the present clock is very realistically painted and even close-up it still appears to be inlaid with brass and pewter in the Boulle manner. The proportions and quality of the case is typical of London clock case making from the first quarter of the 18th century. The black and white image of the clock illustrated is by William Prevost, its marquetry case has an almost identical Arabesque design. The panelled walnut sides, the well proportioned caddy top and original brass finials exemplify English case making of the period. The dial and movement are also typically English but they also exhibit some Continental features such as baluster-shaped dial feet, complicated pierced blued steel hand and other features in the movement. These features are consistent with the clock's German heritage and were probably early alterations.

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