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Exhibit № 25. John Knibb, Oxford, Circa 1680-82

Exhibit № 25. John Knibb, Oxford, Circa 1680-82

A very fine and rare Charles II walnut veneered hooded wall timepiece with carved cresting and alarm

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Height

12½ inches (317 mm)

Case

The rising hood with an oak carcass veneered in walnut with a superbly-carved decorative swan-neck cresting, centred by a cherub’s head and swag, the sides glazed, with a supporting bracket similarly constructed in oak with fine decorative veneers to the visible areas.

Dial

The 4½ inch (114 mm) square gilt-brass dial signed along the base John Knibb, Oxon fecit with a finely matted centre and foliate-engraved spandrels, the silvered chapter ring with fleur-de-lys half-hour marks, typical sculpted blued steel hands and centred by an engraved silvered alarm disc.

Movement

The ‘Oxford’ plated movement with four latched vase-shaped pillars, with rope and pulley drive, verge escapement and short bob pendulum, the alarm struck via a vertically-pivoted hammer.

Duration

30 hour

Provenance

Sotheby’s, 9th December 1960, lot 79;
RT Gwynn Collection, inventory no.C10, until sold 30 August 2000;
The John C Taylor Collection, inventory no.49

Literature

RA Lee, The Knibb Family, Clockmakers, 1964, p.65-66, pl.60;
Collectors Pieces Clocks and Watches, AHS 1964, exhibit no.8;
Dawson, Drover & Parkes, Early English Clocks, 1982, p.488 and pl.725;
The RT Gwynn Clock Catalogue, private, 1990, inventory no.C10 (illus.);
Horological Masterworks, 2003, (illus.) p.142-145;
Garnier & Hollis, Innovation & Collaboration, 2018, (illus.) p.307

Escapement

Knife-edge verge with short bob pendulum

Strike Type

Alarm only

Exhibited

1964, Science Museum, Collectors Pieces Clocks and Watches, exhibit no.8;
2003, Oxford & Liverpool, Horological Masterworks, exhibit no.30;
2018, London, Innovation & Collaboration, exhibit no.89

Small wooden cased 30-hour wall clocks were an alternative to the lantern clock and are often thought of as having been located ‘below stairs’, however this rare example is housed in a very good walnut case with a finely carved crest, while the movement is of plated, not birdcage, construction and the dial has two hands for hours and minutes, so in this instance, it seems more likely this clock would have been on display in a more public area of the house.

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Product Description

Small wooden cased 30-hour wall clocks were an alternative to the lantern clock and are often thought of as having been located ‘below stairs’, however this rare example is housed in a very good walnut case with a finely carved crest, while the movement is of plated, not birdcage, construction and the dial has two hands for hours and minutes, so in this instance, it seems more likely this clock would have been on display in a more public area of the house.

Additional information

Dimensions 5827373 cm