James Stratton
Director
Lot 93TP
A late 17th century marquetry walnut longcase clock Cornelius Herbert, London Bridge
2 December 2025, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£5,000 - £8,000
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Lewis Walduck
Cataloguer
A late 17th century marquetry walnut longcase clock
Cornelius Herbert, London Bridge
The case surmounted by a flat-top hood flanked by twisted columns and decorated with marquetry inlay, the sides with glazed observation windows. The original rising hood now converted to lift-off, with convex throat mouldings leading down to a long trunk door inlaid with floral marquetry depicting still-life and foliate decoration, framed by simple ebonised moulding. The centre of the door with an oval lenticle, the sides with stringing above a moulded base, the plinth with further marquetry inlay, all now raised on a later plinth. The 10 inch brass dial with silvered chapter ring bearing Roman and Arabic numerals, intercepted by fancy cruciform half-hour markers, signed at the six o'clock position Corn Herbert London Bridge. The dial centre matted, with ringed winding squares, subsidiary seconds dial and a decorated calendar aperture, all framed by four cherub-head spandrels.
The six-pillar movement with anchor escapement, powered by a pair of brass-cased lead weights, striking the hours on a bell mounted above the backplate via an internal count wheel. Sold with brass clad weights, pendulum, one case key and a winding key. 203cms (80ins) high.
The case surmounted by a flat-top hood flanked by twisted columns and decorated with marquetry inlay, the sides with glazed observation windows. The original rising hood now converted to lift-off, with convex throat mouldings leading down to a long trunk door inlaid with floral marquetry depicting still-life and foliate decoration, framed by simple ebonised moulding. The centre of the door with an oval lenticle, the sides with stringing above a moulded base, the plinth with further marquetry inlay, all now raised on a later plinth. The 10 inch brass dial with silvered chapter ring bearing Roman and Arabic numerals, intercepted by fancy cruciform half-hour markers, signed at the six o'clock position Corn Herbert London Bridge. The dial centre matted, with ringed winding squares, subsidiary seconds dial and a decorated calendar aperture, all framed by four cherub-head spandrels.
The six-pillar movement with anchor escapement, powered by a pair of brass-cased lead weights, striking the hours on a bell mounted above the backplate via an internal count wheel. Sold with brass clad weights, pendulum, one case key and a winding key. 203cms (80ins) high.
Footnotes
Provenance: The Carl Barnes Collection.
Michael Newman auctioneers, Antiques and Objets D'Art 13th of December 1988, Lot 1027.
Brian Loomes records in 'The Early Clockmakers of Great Britain', NAG Press, 1981, page 280, that Cornelius Herbert was apprenticed in 1659 to David Mell, then to William Grout in 1660/61 and made free of the Clockmakers Company in 1668. Subsequently he took on a number of apprentices, including the unfortunate Thomas Drew who he dismissed for his lack of ability. He worked in London Bridge throughout his career. He died circa 1710.