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Lot Essay
When last sold at auction in 1963 the catalogue description read as follows;
The 10in. dial inscribed Tho. Tompion, Londini fecit beneath the chapter ring, with cherub spandrel pieces and an outer engraved laurel leaf border, a calendar aprerture and seconds dial, with a later arch, the movement with latched plates and dial, ringed pillars, contained in a well figured walnut case, the waist-door with shaped panels and with a domed hood. 7ft. 1in. high
From this typically brief early catalogue description one can glean that the dial had an added arch and the hood had been similarly adapted. The rest of the case seems to concur with its current appearance. The excellent restoration work on the hood was carried out by Percy Dawson, co-author of Early English Clocks, a reference work still regarded as the 'bible' for many early English clock collectors. Both the dial and the movement are in excellent condition and fine examples of Tompion's pre-numbered work. The interior of the trunk shows an excellent well preserved patination and it has the original tell-tale concave mouldings fixed inside the front angles. With the absence of any sign of work or alterations to the inside of the trunk there is every reason to believe the veneer is also original. Despite its limited verbage the original 1963 catalogue description; well figured walnut case with shaped panels certainly seems to reflect its current appearance.
The 10in. dial inscribed Tho. Tompion, Londini fecit beneath the chapter ring, with cherub spandrel pieces and an outer engraved laurel leaf border, a calendar aprerture and seconds dial, with a later arch, the movement with latched plates and dial, ringed pillars, contained in a well figured walnut case, the waist-door with shaped panels and with a domed hood. 7ft. 1in. high
From this typically brief early catalogue description one can glean that the dial had an added arch and the hood had been similarly adapted. The rest of the case seems to concur with its current appearance. The excellent restoration work on the hood was carried out by Percy Dawson, co-author of Early English Clocks, a reference work still regarded as the 'bible' for many early English clock collectors. Both the dial and the movement are in excellent condition and fine examples of Tompion's pre-numbered work. The interior of the trunk shows an excellent well preserved patination and it has the original tell-tale concave mouldings fixed inside the front angles. With the absence of any sign of work or alterations to the inside of the trunk there is every reason to believe the veneer is also original. Despite its limited verbage the original 1963 catalogue description; well figured walnut case with shaped panels certainly seems to reflect its current appearance.