Exhibit № 20. Jacques Hory, St Germain, Paris, Circa 1675

13¼ inches (336 mm)

The carcass veneered in tight-grained walnut, the glazed dial door flanked by gilt capped ebonised Tuscan pilasters on integral plinths, the sides with full-height glazed panels, the moulded cornice surmounted by a superbly executed three-sided carved scroll cresting of Knibb pattern centred by a winged cherub to the front, the moulded, shallow plinth base raised on turned brass feet.

Gilt brass 6 inch (152 mm) rectangular dial plate with matted centre, eccentric winding aperture by VI/VII and central date aperture below VI, silvered brass Roman chapter ring with Arabic 5-minute numerals within the minute track and trident half-hour marks, pierced blued steel hands of Knibb pattern, and gilt brass winged cherub spandrels.

Of typical French pattern, the tandem going/striking spring-barrel and verge escapement within rectangular plates, the four pillars pinned on the backplate signed along its base Jacques Hory, A/Paris, St Germain and with external countwheel, its blued steel detent with similar, bowed spring engaging with its sculpted, curved tail.

30 hour

The RA Lee Collection, 2000, until sold for £10,000;
John C Taylor Collection, inventory no.58

Antiquarian Horology, December 2002, John C Taylor, ‘Joseph Knibb’s first Grande Sonnerie Clock?’ p.198-201, (illus.) fig.2 and 3

Verge with silk-suspended short pendulum

Large external hour countwheel with locking lever U-spring