6


28th July 2012


london selection Condition matters more


■ Collectors start to take 30-hour clocks more seriously


Elizabeth Gill reports


LAST summer, buyers wishing to acquire a clock by one of the Golden Age English makers, such as Fromanteel, East, Tompion, or the Knibbs, had a choice of blue-chip pieces from any of the London salerooms. These had either appeared in


Bonhams’ £1.5m dedicated clock sale, of which over 30% was provided by the £600,000, newly discovered Fromanteel (see ATG No 1998) or else were featured across the decorative sales held at Christie’s and Sotheby’s. This time around, collectors would


have found it harder to hunt out examples of the top names in the salerooms, and even clocks in the £20,000-50,000 range by slightly lower- tier but nevertheless highly sought-after makers were in short supply. Although the received wisdom is that


the market remains strong for the very best pieces, at this level condition and provenance are paramount. While the big money seems to be drifting towards the glitzy decorative pieces made on the Continent or for the Eastern market, perhaps vendors are reluctant to risk consigning anything which may be less than flawless. This year, Bonhams (25/20/12%)


dropped their usual low- to mid-range Knightsbridge event and instead the lion’s share of their horological offerings appeared at a single sale of Fine Clocks


Left: best of the Continental offerings was this French giant carriage clock with grande sonnerie striking and detent escapement, which had survived a bomb during the Blitz. It went for £35,000 at Bonhams' June 20 Clocks sale .


numbering his output on the movement backplate and the inner edge of the trunk door, in this instance number 707. This clock came with a remarkable provenance, having been in the same house since it was bought new in 1733, and was consigned by a descendant of the original purchaser. It had even retained its original winding key. The case was a classic example


at New Bond Street on June 20, with a further 35 mainly French clocks reserved for their Period Design sale in July. This resulted in a wide-ranging outing spanning three centuries, with nearly half the 137 lots carrying estimates of £4000 or less, a notoriously difficult area. Despite this, Bonhams managed to post selling rates of 80% by value and nearly 70% by lot, although given the breadth of the sale, it was


Northern Clocks www.northernclocks.co.uk


An excellent turtle shell veneered bracket/ table clock, ¼ repeating on eight-bells by William Kipling, London c.1715-20. Height: 16½in handle down 18½in up (42cm/47cm)


Boothsbank Farm Worsley


Manchester M28 1LL Tel: 0161 790 8414


Mobile: 07970 820 258 Email: info@northernclocks.co.uk


“Graham worked for Thomas Tompion, eventually becoming his business partner and successor”


difficult to identify any trends. Specialist James Stratton reported a good spread of interest, with the Continental clocks attracting a lot of European attention. As expected,


the top lot was a walnut longcase made by the renowned London maker


George Graham. Graham worked for Thomas Tompion, eventually becoming his business partner and successor. He continued Tompion’s system of


of this Quaker maker’s restrained, well-proportioned style, using his characteristic top-quality walnut veneers with close-grained figuring and deep colour. Standing 7ft 2in (2.3m) high, it had a later caddy top with simple brass- capped Doric columns and pierced sound frets to the hood. The rectangular trunk door had a moulded border and the sides and the base, with its fashionable double-footed skirt, were inlaid with bordered panels of walnut. The 12in square brass dial had Indian head spandrels, silvered chapter and seconds rings and a signature plaque to the finely matted centre as well as being signed along the lower edge Geo:Graham London. The substantial five-latched pillar


movement had maintaining power and a deadbeat escapement, an earlier invention which Graham developed and perfected. Guided at £100,000-150,000, it was bought by the UK trade for £145,000. An earlier Golden Age longcase came


with a more affordable price tag. This was a 30-hour example made by Daniel Quare in the late 17th century, housed in an ebonised architectural case. It was of typical form, with a triangular pediment


Craig Barfoot Clocks Specialising in good quality genuine longcases and offering:


A fine and rare 17th century month-going longcase by John Adamson of London c1685 (illustrated) in marquetry case and with rising hood and a rare early 19th century year-going longcase by Crawshaw of Rotherham (illustrated). Plus a wonderfully original 17th century London 30-hour longcase and an unusual longcase with rare spherical moon, and other interesting clocks.


All guaranteed. UK delivery and set-up included. Worldwide shipping available.


Craig Barfoot, East Hagbourne, Oxfordshire.


Tel: 01235 818968 Mobile: 07710 858158 www.craigbarfootclocks.co.uk


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