James Stratton
Director
This auction has ended. View lot details
You may also be interested in
Lot 57
A very rare 17th century, dated musical lantern clock John Westover Fecit, 1675
8 July 2015, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £17,500 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Clocks specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
A very rare 17th century, dated musical lantern clock
John Westover Fecit, 1675
The very substantial hour bell secured within a fancy strap under a turned finial, the four large upright urn finials interspersed by pierced heraldic frets, the front one engraved with a lion and unicorn above the signature 'John Westouer Fecit 1675', the top and bottom plates let into the corners of the large terminals of the tapering Doric columns terminating in ball feet, the dial with silvered Roman chapter ring with trident half hour markers and an inner quarter hour band enclosing an engraved centre decorated with a winged cherubs head below XII over a date aperture and engraved pair of tulips and other flowers issuing from a node at VI, with alarm setting disc and steel hand, the weight driven movement (chain and ropes lacking) set between three shaped brass plates; to the front the going train with verge escapement and short bob pendulum, to the rear, the striking train for the hours activated via a brass countwheel set with three steel pins to further activate the musical train playing on six bells and hammers 44cms (17ins high.
The very substantial hour bell secured within a fancy strap under a turned finial, the four large upright urn finials interspersed by pierced heraldic frets, the front one engraved with a lion and unicorn above the signature 'John Westouer Fecit 1675', the top and bottom plates let into the corners of the large terminals of the tapering Doric columns terminating in ball feet, the dial with silvered Roman chapter ring with trident half hour markers and an inner quarter hour band enclosing an engraved centre decorated with a winged cherubs head below XII over a date aperture and engraved pair of tulips and other flowers issuing from a node at VI, with alarm setting disc and steel hand, the weight driven movement (chain and ropes lacking) set between three shaped brass plates; to the front the going train with verge escapement and short bob pendulum, to the rear, the striking train for the hours activated via a brass countwheel set with three steel pins to further activate the musical train playing on six bells and hammers 44cms (17ins high.
Footnotes
Literature: White, 'English Lantern Clocks', ACC, 1989 figure V/48. White suggests that this clock is the earliest dated West Country pendulum clock, although Loomes offers James Delaunce as another contender for that title, see 'Clockmakers of Britain 1286 - 1700', Mayfield Books 2014.