Longcase/Grandfather Clock

Nineteenth century English clock adorned with Dick Whittington designs leads a look at horological hammer highlights and previews

This Queen Anne period marquetry longcase featured in a sale of furniture, works of art and clocks held by Woolley & Wallis (26/20% buyer’s premium) in Salisbury from October 4-5.

James Clowes (c.1643-1705), who was born in Astbury, Cheshire, became a Free Brother of The Clockmakers Company in 1671 – the same year as Thomas Tompion, Joseph Knibb, Daniel Quare and Joseph Windmills. He worked first in St Giles in the Fields and then at Saint Ann’s Blackfriars.

This eight-day walnut longcase clock is one of six by Joseph Knibb in a 16-piece collection on offer from dealer Ben Wright.

The December 1-2 Country House & Fine Interiors sale at Anderson & Garland (22% buyer’s premium) in Newcastle included a late 17th century walnut longcase clock by local maker William Prevost.

The UK government has issued a temporary export bar for a Fromanteel longcase clock dating to c.1660.

Edinburgh-made clocks that predate 1700 are rare.

A rare early 18th century folding table and a William III clock were spotted at recent auctions by a Cambridgeshire dealer.

The first clocks represented the pinnacle of English technology and often lead the way in fashion.

This walnut longcase, c.1710, by Daniel Quare (1648/49-1724) with a month duration movement is priced at £95,000 by Howard Walwyn.

A recent Reeman Dansie sale in Colchester included 80 pieces from the estate of the well-known dealer Jane Sumner, who died last September at the age of 82.

The maxim that major names and top quality will always sell was underlined in the biannual specialist clocks sale at Dreweatts (25% buyer’s premium).

Estimated at just £1000-1500, this late-17th century walnut eight-day longcase clock sold via thesaleroom.com for £11,000 at Elstob & Elstob (22% buyer’s premium) in Ripon.

This monumental English longcase clock sold in a Massachusetts auction is a remarkable exercise in antiquarianism.

Falling short of ambitious hopes but leading the day at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) first sale of 2020 was a fine English Golden Age longcase clock.

Two leading BADA members have reported strong sales to close out the year.

Most regionally made Georgian oak longcase clocks can now be bought for under £500 but this example is by a highly regarded and collectable maker: John Wolley or Woolley (c.1738-95) of Codnor, Derbyshire.

Kensington Church Street clock dealer Howard Walwyn will offer this previously unknown Thomas Tompion walnut and mulberry longcase at the Masterpiece fair in London.

A mahogany longcase clock by Thomas Mudge (1715-94) is priced at £45,000 from Cheltenham dealer Tobias Birch.