A fine late 17th century ebony veneered quarter repeating bracket timepiece
Thomas Tompion, London, number 53
The lightly facetted handle with central bud and internal pommels set on a pair of shaped brass flowerhead mounts, the caddy further set with four mounts of foliate scrollwork, the bold cornice over long rectangular side panels and a moulded plinth base on turned wooden feet, the front door with pierced brass sound fret and three further frets, the case numbered on the inside sill, on the left hand side,
The dial measures 6.75 inches square and is signed along the lower edge in a flowing copperplate script Thos Tompion Londini fecit, with winged cherubs head spandrels enclosing the silvered Roman and Arabic dial with sword-shaped half hour marks, outer minutes and inner quarter hours, the centre finely matted, with blued steel hands, the three dial feet latched to the shaped frontplate of the movement, the six knopped finned and latched pillars securing the larger rectangular backplate, signed in full 'Tho Tompion Londini Fecit' in an engraved rectangular reserve amongst symmetrical scroll work, the repeating bar pivotted just above the centre, a cut out to the upper left hand side to allow room for the hour bell, the single gut fusee to a verge escapement with calibrated pear-shaped rating nut, repeating the hours and quarters on two bells and hammers 37cms (14.5ins) high.
Footnotes
Saleroom notices
- PLEASE NOTE: This lot is subject to VAT on the hammer price.