THIS rare Charles II clock by John Knibb of Oxford, c.1685, was recently found by the vendor when sorting through effects inherited from a family member around 50 years ago.
The walnut 30-hour striking wall clock with alarm was then consigned to Dreweatts’ sale of clocks, barometers and scientific instruments on February 17 at Donnington Priory, where it made the top price of £37,000 (plus 20 per cent premium) selling to a UK private collector.
The 13 3/4in (35cm) high clock, signed by Knibb to the lower edge of the gilt-brass dial, is one of a group of probably fewer than ten surviving small hooded wall clocks from the workshops of both John and his brother Joseph Knibb.
This version, estimated at £15,000-20,000, has a striking train, necessitating the crown wheel alarm to be transversely mounted on the left hand side of the movement and, unusually, has a plated movement.
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