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Lot Essay
The style of this table clock is very suggestive of Continental influence; but yet there are no hints within the movement or messages in the style of the clockmaking to suggest that it was made anywhere other than in London at the end of the 17th century.
That this clock was made by Daniel Quare should not come as a surprise when one considers how cosmopolitan his clientelle were. His daughter Ann's wedding guest list is well known to have included Envoys from Venice, Hanover, Portugal, Prussia, Florence and other countries. It is therefore not difficult or unrealistic to speculate that the present clock was a commission from a high-ranking Continental Ambassador or aristocrat; to make a travelling clock of the very highest quality, portable - like a very small bracket clock, beautiful - like a jewelery casket, practical - with an alarm, and in the style favoured by his Continental contemporaries.
The particularly well pierced and engraved side panels are a rare survival. The heavy gilt-brass case mouldings and dial frame is a feature Quare particularly liked to use on his best quality longcase clocks when he wished to accentuate a particularly well figured walnut case.
That this clock was made by Daniel Quare should not come as a surprise when one considers how cosmopolitan his clientelle were. His daughter Ann's wedding guest list is well known to have included Envoys from Venice, Hanover, Portugal, Prussia, Florence and other countries. It is therefore not difficult or unrealistic to speculate that the present clock was a commission from a high-ranking Continental Ambassador or aristocrat; to make a travelling clock of the very highest quality, portable - like a very small bracket clock, beautiful - like a jewelery casket, practical - with an alarm, and in the style favoured by his Continental contemporaries.
The particularly well pierced and engraved side panels are a rare survival. The heavy gilt-brass case mouldings and dial frame is a feature Quare particularly liked to use on his best quality longcase clocks when he wished to accentuate a particularly well figured walnut case.