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A Charles II olivewood oyster-veneered, ebonised and floral marquetry striking eight day longcase clock

WILLIAM KNOTTESFORD, LONDON. CIRCA 1680/85

Details

A Charles II olivewood oyster-veneered, ebonised and floral marquetry striking eight day longcase clock
William Knottesford, London. Circa 1680/85
The case with double scroll cresting carved with shell and swag to stepped and moulded rising (reconverted) hood, inset barley-twist columns and glazed side panels, the trunk door with floral marquetry panels, with oyster-veneered sides, conforming panels to plinth raised on bun feet, the 10in. square brass dial with scored line border and winged cherub mask spandrels, signed William Knottesford Londini below the silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring with sword hilt half hour markers, subsidiary seconds to the matted centre with date square and shuttered winding holes, blued steel hands, the twin train movement with inverted trains, securing bracket to backboard, five ringed and latched pillars, bolt and shutter maintaining power, anchor escapement and outside countwheel strike on bell; pendulum, two weights
79½ in. (202 cm.) high

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Apprenticed to Henry Child in 1656-57, William Knottesford was freed in 1663-1664. He took his son John as apprentice in 1680-81. He was an Assistant in the Clockmakers' Company from 1676, Warden from 1681 and Master in 1693. Loomes (The Early Clockmakers of Great Britain, NAG Press, 1981, p.345) describes him as only attending 'when forced to'. Knottesford died in 1698.
A Charles II olivewood turntable clock by Knottesford was sold Christie's London, Important Clocks, 7 December 2005, lot 83.

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