A fine and rare late 17th century lantern clock with barrel winding
George Harris, Fritwell
The strapped bell held in place by five turned brass finials (central one reduced) divided by three pierced frets, all of which, unusually, are engraved with flower heads and addorsed mythical fish, over four gently tapering Doric columns on ball feet, the top plate with wrought iron wall fixing points, the bottom plate with spikes, the 6 and 7/16s of an inch-wide chapter ring with distinctively squat Roman numerals, inner quarter hour track and unusual 'spearhead' half hour marks, drilled at V and VII for the winding squares, with (later?) single hand and fully signed centre 'George Harris in Fritwell Fecit' engraved with flower heads, leaves and buds, the weight driven movement with short verge bob pendulum on a knife edge, the going and striking trains mounted one behind the other with grooved barrels, the strike wound on the right hand side via an elongated steel winding arbour (the hammer arbour with an old break) and outside countwheel 37cm (14.5in) high.
