Stock No.

Exhibit No.28

Height

7 feet 8 inches (2337 mm)

Case

The Type 3 burr walnut case with forward sliding hood, the caddy top flanked by two brass ball and flame finials, pierced walnut sound frets to the front friezes above brass-capped Doric columns flanking the hood door, concave throat mouldings, the rectangular trunk door punch-numbered 333 on the leading edge, cross-banded plinth raised on a walnut skirting. The backboard with a peened iron bracket in the usual manner to secure the movement.

Dial

The 11 inch (279 mm) fire-gilded brass dial signed Tho: Tompion Londini Fecit beneath the silvered chapter ring with Roman hours and sword-hilt half-hours, Arabic minutes and cross half-quarters, and finely pierced blued steel hands. The matted centre with seconds ring and pin-adjusted calendar aperture, shuttered winding holes, shutter lever to left edge of dial between IX and X, double-screwed gilt-brass Indian mask & scroll spandrels, with engraved scrolling foliage between, attributed to Graver 195, four latched dial feet.

Movement

The substantial and archetypal month-going movement with six latched finned baluster pillars, lower centre missing. The going train with anchor escapement, bolt and shutter maintaining power, and brass-rod pendulum with lenticular bob and calibrated rating nut. The strike train governed by a large external countwheel. The backplate punch-numbered 333 to the bottom centre, with two original brass cased weights.

Duration

One month

Provenance

Sotheby’s, 20 November 1936, lot 92, property of a lady, sold for 580 gns;
Sir Eric Milbourn, sold Christie’s, 8 June 1967, for £2400;
Private collection UK, sold Christie’s, 13 Nov 2000, lot 104, for £311,750;
The John C Taylor collection, inventory no.60

Literature

Horological Masterworks, 2003, p.208-211;
J L Evans, Thomas Tompion at the Dial and Three Crowns, 2006, listed p.77;
Evans, Carter & Wright, Thomas Tompion 300 years, 2013, p.474-475, 604

Escapement

Anchor