JOHANNES VAN CEULEN, THE HAGUE. CIRCA 1695

Details

A Dutch ebony, padouk wood and gilt-brass mounted striking 'Haagse' clock
Johannes Van Ceulen, The Hague. Circa 1695
The door with moulded breakarch cresting centred by a later gilt-brass Athena finial, with plain tapering pilasters above a moulded plinth, opening on concealed hinges via integral side-positioned catch operated with the winding key, the case with glazed side panels within moulded frames and supported by four bun feet, the inside rear panel inlaid with an olivewood parquetry star, the upper rear with hanging loops (one brass, one iron), the dial opening on pins and with velvet-covered brass plate, gilt-brass skeletonised Roman chapter ring with outer minutes, plain gilt-brass hands, the chapter ring supported by a relief cast figure of Chronos resting on two signature plaques inscribed Johannes Van/Ceulen Haghe, the French style one week movement with rectangular plates joined by five ringed vase-shaped back-pinned pillars, twin barrels, three spoke wheelwork, verge escapement with silk suspension and cycloidal cheeks, calibrated countwheel, striking hours and half hours on bell above the case, the back plate signed Johannes Van Ceulen/Fecit Hagae; pendulum, key
48.5 cm. high

Literature

Illustrated, Dr R Plomp, Spring-driven Dutch Pendulum Clocks 1657-1710, Schiedam, 1979, p.100, fig.22

Special notice

Christie’s charges a premium to the buyer on the Hammer Price of each lot sold at the following rates: 29.75% of the Hammer Price of each lot up to and including €5,000, plus 23.8% of the Hammer Price between €5,001 and €400,000, plus 14.28% of any amount in excess of €400,001. Buyer’s premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.

Lot Essay

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
Dr R Plomp, Spring-driven Dutch Pendulum Clocks 1657-1710, Schiedam, 1979, pp.88-107
H.M. Vehmeyer, Clocks, Their Origin and Development 1320-1880, Vol.I, Gent, 2004, pp.364-369
Tardy, French Clocks, Clocks the World Over, Vol.III, Paris, 1981, pp.235-237
Dr J.L. Sellink, Dutch Antique Domestic Clocks, Leiden, 1973, pp.48-49 & pp.55-56
Van den Ende, van Kersen, van Kersen-Halbertsma, Taylor & Taylor, Huygens' Legacy, The Golden Age of the Pendulum Clock, Frome, 2004, pp.174-177
W.F.J. Hana, Nederlandse Klokken, Haarlem, 1980, p.168

Johannes van Ceulen (ante 1656-1715) is described by Plomp (op. cit, p.88) as 'without doubt the most capable and prolific maker of Hague' clocks. He is first mentioned in the Hague in 1676 and became a citizen in 1677, when he bought a house opposite that of Christian Huygens, for whom he made a planetarium (now in the Museum Boerhave in Leiden) and also two special clocks for his attempts to determine longitude at sea. His comparatively large output suggests that he had several men working for him.
A van Ceulen clock of closely related design was sold Sotheby's Amsterdam, Clocks, Watches and Wristwatches, 25 May 2004, lot 172.

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