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拍品專文
Phase II table clocks to appear at auction in recent years include: No.260 (Christie's, Amsterdam, P.C. Spaans Collection, 19 December 2007, lot 495 Euro 276,000); No. 249 (Christie's, London, 1 July 2008, lot 57 £217,250); and No.440 by Tompion & Banger (Bonhams, 15 December 2009, lot 96, £240,000).
In the 19th century, this clock descended in the family of the celebrated author Jane Austen (1775-1817). Her brother, Rev James Austen, married Mary Lloyd (1771-1843) who was bequeathed an "8-day Tompion clock" from her mother, Martha (Craven) Lloyd in 1799 (PRO. Prob. 11/1435/847). Martha Lloyd, the wife of Rev Nowys Lloyd (1719-1789), Rector of Bishopston, was described as late of the parish of Deane, now Ibthorp in Upper Hurlestone, Hampshire, widow. It is presumed that the clock descended to James Edward Austen (1798-1874), son of James and Mary (he later added Leigh to his surname), and from James Edward it could have passed to his son Cholmeley Austen-Leigh (1829-1899), and thence to Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh (1872-1961), who sold the clock in 1950. At this auction, the clock was purchased by James Oakes, a prolific specialist clock dealer who regularly exhibited at the Antique Dealers' Fair at Grosvenor House from 1947 to 1956 and had shops in Bond Street and Duke Street.
We are grateful to Jeremy Evans for his research on the Austen family.
'Graver 155'
Tompion's engraving can for the most part be identified with four principal craftsmen from his workshop. As Jeremy Evans discusses (Thomas Tompion at the Dial and Three Crowns, Ticehurst, 2006, p. 69), the 'tulip' engraver is the earliest (see lots 58 and 59) and the other three are identified by the clock on which their work first appears: 'G.155', 'G.195' and 'G.515' (the 'G' referring to 'Graver'). Clock no. 205 may be identified with 'G.155', as the delicate treatment of the foliate bordered cartouche and the entwined scrollwork and horizontal platforms are consistent with this craftsman's work. Of the approximately 55 standard size phase II Tompion table clocks listed by Evans, about 24 have engraving attributed to 'G.155'; interestingly of these only 5 are noted as having a date aperture, including the present clock. Two of the most important works by 'G.155' are 'the Mostyn' (unnumbered) and 'Selby-Lowndes' (No.217) table clocks.
In the 19th century, this clock descended in the family of the celebrated author Jane Austen (1775-1817). Her brother, Rev James Austen, married Mary Lloyd (1771-1843) who was bequeathed an "8-day Tompion clock" from her mother, Martha (Craven) Lloyd in 1799 (PRO. Prob. 11/1435/847). Martha Lloyd, the wife of Rev Nowys Lloyd (1719-1789), Rector of Bishopston, was described as late of the parish of Deane, now Ibthorp in Upper Hurlestone, Hampshire, widow. It is presumed that the clock descended to James Edward Austen (1798-1874), son of James and Mary (he later added Leigh to his surname), and from James Edward it could have passed to his son Cholmeley Austen-Leigh (1829-1899), and thence to Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh (1872-1961), who sold the clock in 1950. At this auction, the clock was purchased by James Oakes, a prolific specialist clock dealer who regularly exhibited at the Antique Dealers' Fair at Grosvenor House from 1947 to 1956 and had shops in Bond Street and Duke Street.
We are grateful to Jeremy Evans for his research on the Austen family.
'Graver 155'
Tompion's engraving can for the most part be identified with four principal craftsmen from his workshop. As Jeremy Evans discusses (Thomas Tompion at the Dial and Three Crowns, Ticehurst, 2006, p. 69), the 'tulip' engraver is the earliest (see lots 58 and 59) and the other three are identified by the clock on which their work first appears: 'G.155', 'G.195' and 'G.515' (the 'G' referring to 'Graver'). Clock no. 205 may be identified with 'G.155', as the delicate treatment of the foliate bordered cartouche and the entwined scrollwork and horizontal platforms are consistent with this craftsman's work. Of the approximately 55 standard size phase II Tompion table clocks listed by Evans, about 24 have engraving attributed to 'G.155'; interestingly of these only 5 are noted as having a date aperture, including the present clock. Two of the most important works by 'G.155' are 'the Mostyn' (unnumbered) and 'Selby-Lowndes' (No.217) table clocks.