THOMAS TOMPION, LONDON, NO. 189. CIRCA 1691

Details

A WILLIAM AND MARY WALNUT STRIKING MONTH-GOING LONGCASE CLOCK
THOMAS TOMPION, LONDON, NO. 189. CIRCA 1691
CASE: rising hood also with door and with later brass finials to caddy top, later frets to front and one side, brass caps to front columns, rear caps lacking, long glazed side panels, chevron inlaid panels to the trunk sides and conforming inlays to trunk door with ebonised later moulded frame, replaced hinges and lacking lock, replaced upper cleat, with double moulding above replaced plinth DIAL: 11 in. square brass dial with foliate engraving between winged cherub mask spandrels, signed along the lower edge 'Tho: Tompion Londini Fecit', sword-hilt half hour markers to the chapter ring, matted centre with subsidiary seconds ring and date aperture, original cut steel hands MOVEMENT: fully latched and with six ringed pillars, anchor escapement and outside countwheel strike on bell, the lower back plate numbered '189', with securing bracket to corresponding bracket on backboard, formerly with bolt-and-shutter maintaining power; two brass weights, pendulum, crank key
89 in. (226 cm.) high; 16 in. (41 cm.) wide; 9 in. (23 cm.) deep

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Lot Essay

Tompion's numbering system started circa 1682 and Jeremy Evans (Thomas Tompion at the Dial and Three Crowns, Ticehurst, 2006, p. 71) suggests clocks in the upper 180s were retailed circa 1691. Walnut month-going longcase clocks by Tompion appear infrequently at auction, with most recent examples being later clocks. These include:
No. 301, the Property of a Gentleman, Christie's London, 4 June 2009, lot 80, (£241,250)
No. 333, anonymous sale, Christie's London, 13 December 2000, lot 104, (£311,750)
No. 318, from the Collection of the late 13th Lord Fairfax of Cameron Bt, Christie's London, 11 July 2003, lot 73 (£341,250)
No. 365, with Royal provenance, sold anonymously, Christie's London, 15 September 2004, lot 43 (£520,450)
Despite the changes made to the present clock it remains a fundamentally original example of Tompion's work. The rising hood is an interesting feature, not seen on the later walnut clocks listed above.
Thomas Tompion (1639-1713), born at Northill, Bedfordshire, had moved to London by 1671. In 1674 he moved to Water Lane and met Dr. Robert Hooke, through whom he came to the notice of Charles II. From this time he held an unrivalled position in English horology. In 1703 he was Master of the Clockmakers' Company. He died aged 74 and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

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