.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
There are a number of well documented clocks which bear the name of Daniel Quare but which have movements which were unquestionably made in the workshops of Thomas Tompion. These retailed movements were always made to Tompion's unparalleled standards. Such examples exist in the the British Museum, (Ilbert bequest) and another was sold in these rooms 26 November, 1996, the Vitale Collection, lot 245.
Earlier in his career, between 1675-85, it is thought that that Tompion quite probably retailed a number of the clocks he sold. He seems to have formed close links with Joseph Knibb and Henry Jones, but there there have been no clear references to Tompion being associated with Daniel Quare's workshops before about 1685. Despite clear knowledge based on firm evidence that Quare was retailing Tompion's movements there had been little or no suggestion that this relationship was symbiotic. The present clock strongly suggests that there was a two-way agreement between Tompion and Quare and that very occasionally Tompion could not keep up with demand.
The dial and case of the present clock are very clearly made in Tompion's workshops and the movement backplate is unquestionably by one of Tompion's engravers. However the pillars, repeat system and many other features on the movement quite cleary point away from Tompion's workshops and towards the type of movements being produced at that time by Daniel Quare.
An example of very similar backplate engraving to the present lot may be seen on Tompion No. 220 illustrated in R. W. Symonds, Thomas Tompion, his Life and Works, Batsford, 1964, p. 202, fig. 189. - the signature has a very similar cartouche and even shares the same feature of a little face depicted at the top of the cartouche wearing a chinese-style hat.
Earlier in his career, between 1675-85, it is thought that that Tompion quite probably retailed a number of the clocks he sold. He seems to have formed close links with Joseph Knibb and Henry Jones, but there there have been no clear references to Tompion being associated with Daniel Quare's workshops before about 1685. Despite clear knowledge based on firm evidence that Quare was retailing Tompion's movements there had been little or no suggestion that this relationship was symbiotic. The present clock strongly suggests that there was a two-way agreement between Tompion and Quare and that very occasionally Tompion could not keep up with demand.
The dial and case of the present clock are very clearly made in Tompion's workshops and the movement backplate is unquestionably by one of Tompion's engravers. However the pillars, repeat system and many other features on the movement quite cleary point away from Tompion's workshops and towards the type of movements being produced at that time by Daniel Quare.
An example of very similar backplate engraving to the present lot may be seen on Tompion No. 220 illustrated in R. W. Symonds, Thomas Tompion, his Life and Works, Batsford, 1964, p. 202, fig. 189. - the signature has a very similar cartouche and even shares the same feature of a little face depicted at the top of the cartouche wearing a chinese-style hat.