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The Medici Tompion, No. 278 circa 1696

The Medici Tompion, No. 278 circa 1696

A highly important ebony and gilt-brass three-train full grande sonnerie striking table clock with trip repeat


Height

28 inches

Case

Ebony veneers on oak with profuse gilt-brass mounts, inverted-bell top surmounted by an equestrian figure on a panelled pedestal now fronted by a reversed-C cypher, flanked by volutes; gadrooned flambeau urn finials, floral swags and a central cartouche with the Medici arms (for Cosimo III de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany), surmounted by a coronet. Elaborate cast foliate sound frets to the sides with acanthus dragon handles, Doric ebony columns and bellflower escutcheons, the base with elaborate satyr mask and hooded masks to the front and sides, fitted with a drawer, the case supported on gilt-brass scrolling foot with swags of flowers and central Bacchus mask.

Dial

7¾ by 8¾ inch dial signed Thomas Tompion LONDINI Fecit in a palm frond cartouche flanked by silvered subsidiary dials, the left for pendulum regulation, the right engraved S6/N6 N1/S1, double-screwed Minerva mask-and-foliage spandrels, mock pendulum to matted centre, blued-steel hands.

Movement

Triple fusee movement with 7¾ by 9¼ inch plates and seven latched baluster pillars, pendulum suspended from brass regulation bar, quarters able to strike on one or six bells, hours on a further bell. Trip quarter repeat via blued-steel interconnecting levers on the backplate which is signed Thomas Tompion LONDINI Fecit within a palm frond cartouche within profuse foliate engraving (G.155), punch-numbered 278 at the base.

Duration

8-day.

Provenance

Presented c.1700 with an unspecified number of other clocks and watches by William III of England and Holland to his cousin Cosimo III de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.

Rediscovered 1985 and sold Christie’s, London, 26 Nov, 1985 lot 131

Private collection, Germany.

Literature

R Garnier, ‘Striking Royal Connections’, Country Life, 6 Dec 1990. p.128.

Evans, Carter & Wright, Thomas Tompion 300 Years, p.392-395.

Garnier & Carter, The Golden Age of English Horology, 2015, p.80-85.

Escapement

Pivoted verge.

The bill for this clock was outstanding on the king’s death in 1702 and Tompion was obliged to petition William’s successor, Queen Anne, on 19 May 1703 praying payment of £564: 15s: due to him for Clocks & Watches &c presented by his late Ma.ty to the Duke of Florence, to which the queen’s minuted response was Her Ma.ty has no occasion for his clocks & Watches [London, Kew, National Archives, ten, T29/14, p.92].

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Product Description

The bill for this clock was outstanding on the king’s death in 1702 and Tompion was obliged to petition William’s successor, Queen Anne, on 19 May 1703 praying payment of £564: 15s: due to him for Clocks & Watches &c presented by his late Ma.ty to the Duke of Florence, to which the queen’s minuted response was Her Ma.ty has no occasion for his clocks & Watches [London, Kew, National Archives, ten, T29/14, p.92].

Additional information

Dimensions 5827373 cm