James Stratton
Director
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Lot 111W
A rare early 18th century walnut longcase clock of one month duration Daniel Quare, London
Amended
12 December 2012, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £21,250 inc. premium
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A rare early 18th century walnut longcase clock of one month duration
Daniel Quare, London
The hood with stepped caddy top on gilt-brass Doric capitals, the long trunk door with moulded edge and inlaid border to a (restored) panel base, the 11 inch square brass dial with double-screwed Indian mask spandrels framing the signed silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring with 'meeting arrow-heads' half and half-quarter markers, the matted centre with subsidiary seconds dial, chamfered date aperture and ringed winding squares, the movement with five substantial knopped and finned pillars, bolt-and-shutter maintaining power to the anchor escapement and rack strike on a bell 2.47m (8ft 1ins) high.
The hood with stepped caddy top on gilt-brass Doric capitals, the long trunk door with moulded edge and inlaid border to a (restored) panel base, the 11 inch square brass dial with double-screwed Indian mask spandrels framing the signed silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring with 'meeting arrow-heads' half and half-quarter markers, the matted centre with subsidiary seconds dial, chamfered date aperture and ringed winding squares, the movement with five substantial knopped and finned pillars, bolt-and-shutter maintaining power to the anchor escapement and rack strike on a bell 2.47m (8ft 1ins) high.
Footnotes
A similar example with the original stepped base is illustrated in Derek Roberts' 'British Longcase Clocks', Schiffer 1990, figure 46, page 37.
Little is known about Daniel Quare before 1671 when he was admitted to the Clockmaker's Company as a Brother on the 3rd of April. In 1682 when Robert Seignior was appointed Clockmaker to the King, Quare took over his premises in Exchange Alley. At best, his work is of exceptional quality, a ten-foot tall year-duration walnut longcase clock for William III, is still in Hampton Court Palace today. Other examples sit in the British Museum and others. Quare is quoted as saying that in his working life he served 'men of the greatest rank of most other nations in Europe, as well as this nation'.
He was a devout Quaker and would not swear oaths or pay tithes. In 1715 he refused the invitation to become Royal Watchmaker but an arrangement was arrived at whereby he was welcomed to enter the palace at any time via the back stairs.
Saleroom notices
Please note this is a 12 inch dial, not 11 inch as stated in the catalogue