James Stratton
Director
Lot 94*,TP
A fine early 18th century English walnut and marquetry inlaid longcase clock of one month duration Henry Massy, London
2 December 2025, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£5,500 - £8,300
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Lewis Walduck
Cataloguer
A fine early 18th century English walnut and marquetry inlaid longcase clock of one month duration
Henry Massy, London
The case surmounted by three ball finials over a caddy top inlaid with floral marquetry decoration above a moulded cornice, with a pierced sound fret backed in red silk, supported by four brass-capped Doric columns. The sides with rectangular observation windows, the front door framed by further marquetry inlay. The concave throat moulding similarly decorated above the long trunk door with three panels of fine seaweed marquetry, centred by a large circular brass lenticle with brass escutcheon to the left-hand side. The sides with plain banding above a moulded base and plinth decorated with a further marquetry panel, all raised on a (later) base. The 12 inch Roman and Arabic brass dial with fancy cruciform half-hour markers, finely matted centre with subsidiary seconds and decorated chamfered calendar aperture, with pierced blued steel hands, signed Henry Massy, London, all framed by four cast brass spandrels. The two-train movement united by five knopped pillars with anchor escapement, striking the hours on a bell via an outside countwheel. Sold together with a pendulum and two weights, currently ticking and striking. 2.48m (8.16ft) high.
The case surmounted by three ball finials over a caddy top inlaid with floral marquetry decoration above a moulded cornice, with a pierced sound fret backed in red silk, supported by four brass-capped Doric columns. The sides with rectangular observation windows, the front door framed by further marquetry inlay. The concave throat moulding similarly decorated above the long trunk door with three panels of fine seaweed marquetry, centred by a large circular brass lenticle with brass escutcheon to the left-hand side. The sides with plain banding above a moulded base and plinth decorated with a further marquetry panel, all raised on a (later) base. The 12 inch Roman and Arabic brass dial with fancy cruciform half-hour markers, finely matted centre with subsidiary seconds and decorated chamfered calendar aperture, with pierced blued steel hands, signed Henry Massy, London, all framed by four cast brass spandrels. The two-train movement united by five knopped pillars with anchor escapement, striking the hours on a bell via an outside countwheel. Sold together with a pendulum and two weights, currently ticking and striking. 2.48m (8.16ft) high.
Footnotes
Henry Massy (also recorded as Henry Massey) was a London clock and watchmaker active during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Born circa 1664, he was the son of Nicholas Massy I and brother of Nicholas Massey II. He was admitted as a Free Brother of the Clockmakers' Company in 1692 and is recorded as working from Charles Street, St James's, London. Massy died in 1720.
Literature: Thompson, Watches, London, 2008; Loomes, Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World, London, 2006; Britten, Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers, London, 1986; Loomes, Clockmakers of Britain 1286–1700, London, 2014.