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Lot Essay
Jonathan Puller was born circa 1662 and apprenticed to Nicholas Coxeter, being passed over to John Miller on Coxeter's death in 1679. He was made Free of the Clockmakers' Company in September 1683 and over the next twenty four years of his career he is recorded as having employed eight apprentices. He was made Assistant in 1701 and attended Court until 1707, when he is presumed to have died.
Miniature table clocks from the late 17th Century are rare and, not withstanding the obvious and somewhat eccentric alterations/additions it has sustained, this clock is a remarkable survival. For a clock of this size to incorporate a three train split-plate movement demonstrates Puller's great skill. The style of the dial, with its three-prong half hour markers and finely chased cherub spandrels, combined with the slender latched and ringed movement pillars are all reminiscent of the work of Joseph Knibb. The likeness is perhaps not surprising; Puller's master, John Miller (d.1702), was apprenticed first to Samuel Knibb (d.1670) and then bound over to Joseph Knibb (d.1711). The few examples extant of Miller's work have a marked 'Knibb' style and it is probable that some of the Knibb influence rubbed off on his own apprentice.
The present clock bears close comparison with a miniature three train table clock by Jonathan Puller sold at Christie's London, Important Clocks and Marine Chronometers, 14 June 2000, lot 74. That clock also had a split front plate, and the dial (excepting the later mock pendulum aperture on this clock) is remarkably similar, as is the back plate engraving and the Tompionesque system of repeating on two interconnecting levers.
Miniature table clocks from the late 17th Century are rare and, not withstanding the obvious and somewhat eccentric alterations/additions it has sustained, this clock is a remarkable survival. For a clock of this size to incorporate a three train split-plate movement demonstrates Puller's great skill. The style of the dial, with its three-prong half hour markers and finely chased cherub spandrels, combined with the slender latched and ringed movement pillars are all reminiscent of the work of Joseph Knibb. The likeness is perhaps not surprising; Puller's master, John Miller (d.1702), was apprenticed first to Samuel Knibb (d.1670) and then bound over to Joseph Knibb (d.1711). The few examples extant of Miller's work have a marked 'Knibb' style and it is probable that some of the Knibb influence rubbed off on his own apprentice.
The present clock bears close comparison with a miniature three train table clock by Jonathan Puller sold at Christie's London, Important Clocks and Marine Chronometers, 14 June 2000, lot 74. That clock also had a split front plate, and the dial (excepting the later mock pendulum aperture on this clock) is remarkably similar, as is the back plate engraving and the Tompionesque system of repeating on two interconnecting levers.