JOHN ELLICOTT
John Ellicott was one of the most eminent clock and
watchmakers of the 18th century. He was the son of a
Cornishman, also John and also a clockmaker. John senior
died in 1733. By 1728 his son has already established himself
in business in Swithin’s Alley, Royal Exchange.
He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1738 and served
on its council for three years. He was interested in many of
the scientific developments of the day and maintained his
own observatory at his home in Hackney. It is for his work on
temperature compensated pendulums and the development
of the use of the cylinder escapement that he is best known,
but his reputation for the finest quality workmanship elevated
him to the position of Clockmaker to the King.
In 1760 he took his son Edward into partnership, and they
worked together until John’s death in 1772.
.
A UNIQUE CLOCK?
Better known for his superb astronomical type. The heavy cross-grain mouldings
regulators and exquisite watches, John and more generous case proportions are
Ellicott also made a wide range of high certainly more typical of his earlier case
quality domestic clocks. Amongst these he style from the 1750’s – 10 years before he
made a small number of walnut veneered popularised his port-hole style clocks.
spring clocks with break arch dials and Another possibly unique design element
inverted bell tops which are highly prized worth a mention is the addition of a ‘port
by English clock collectors. hole’ in the rear door. As far as we are
This particular clock is quite possibly aware this is the only example of its type.
a unique combination of Ellicott’s early As the photograph of the back of the clock
walnut spring clocks and his somewhat ably demonstrates the lovely circular gilt
later mahogany-veneered examples brass moulding frames the movement in
with ‘port-hole’ front doors closing over a most eye-catching manner. It seems a
a square dial plate. In all shame that Ellicott went on to
probability this clock was use a square aperture in
one of Ellicott’s very his later examples –
early prototypes on the other hand
and the only it does make the
known walnut- present clock a
v e n e e r e d particularly rare
example of its beast.
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