It was consigned for sale from a local house recently inherited by the current owner and carried a £3000-5000 estimate.
Outwardly it bears many characteristics of a London-made clock from the so-called Second Period, but the construction marks it as a Bristol clock of a generation later. In addition to the engraved date 1689, it carries the name Tho. Powell, who is not recorded in the literature but could well be a previously unknown maker. He was clearly a man of some talent. This unusually large clock, standing 16in (41cm) high, featured a three-train musical movement striking on eight bells.
The power of the unknown Powell
A late 17th century English musical lantern clock with a musical movement closed the year in style at Moore Allen & Innocent of Norcote near Cirencester when it was bought by a private collector from the Midlands at £22,000 (plus 15 per cent buyer’s premium) on December 8.