17th Century More Clocks

A fine and rare William & Mary long case or grandfather clock by London maker Daniel LeCompte. c.1690, London, the fine marquetry case having oval panels of birds and flowers, the movement signed Daniel LeCount (LeCompte) having a silver chapter ring and seconds dial, brass spandrels of cupids supporting a crown; including key, weights and pendulum. LeCompte was a French Huguenot...

A superb Charles II month duration floral marquetry longcase clock by the well-known maker John Wise, c. 1680-85. Measure: 10". The case is of the highest quality and decorated throughout in very attractive floral marquetry depicting spring flowers and birds showing a high level of sophistication with a glazed circular lenticle to the door. Similarly, the rising hood is decorated with blind frets around the top and surmounted by a shallow caddy decorated by five gilt wooden ball finials. It is flanked by prominent gilt brass-capped solid barley twist columns, with blind fretted panels to the sides. The month-going nicely finned and knopped five pillar movement has reversed going and striking trains, the striking train (on the right) being regulated by a small outside countwheel. The going train has anchor escapement and a seconds pendulum. The movement is fronted by a 10-inch brass dial with an unusual narrow silvered chapter ring, seconds ring and date aperture. It has elaborate cherub-head spandrels in the corners and is signed along the bottom John Wise Londini Fecit. The middle is finely matted, whilst the time is indicated by a fine pair of blued-steel hands, the hour hand richly pierced. The maker John Wise was born in Banbury shortly before 17 March 1624, the date of his baptism. He was the son of John and Ann Wise and a cousin of Joseph Knibb...

A beautiful, rare solid silver Anglo-French octagonal pocket sundial with compass by Michael Butterfield, circa 1700. The sundial is made for a latitude of 44° and could be used in places in the south of France such as Avignon and elsewhere along this parallel. The elaborately engraved base plate has a Roman chapter ring on which the gnomon (a triangular flap) casts its shadow. It is signed by the maker in the following manner: Butterfield A Paris. On one side is a glazed recessed compass with a blued steel hand to position the instrument in such a way that the time can be read. The hinged triangular gnomon is richly engraved and in the shape of a bird’s head. The folding gnomon and cut corners enable the dial to be carried in the pocket. The underside shows the latitudes of various Southern-French places in the relevant areas Its maker Michael Butterfield was an English instrument maker who based himself in 'Le Quay de l'Horloge' of Paris from circa 1685. These types of dials, often replicated by other makers, became known as Butterfield Dials...

Cross-shaped chest clock. Silver. 17th century. It presents restorations. Portable clock in the shape of a cross with an openwork exterior showing Christian figurative scenes and the movement inside, a dial with a golden band with Roman numerals for the hours, a single needle and an engraved decoration around it, also with a religious theme; on the back, the back of the movement can be seen, with a delicate decoration, also openwork and based on plant motifs reminiscent of classicism, and a band on the case of the piece with simplified plant elements. Outside, we find ourselves on one side with Christ crucified, flanked by the Virgin Mary and Saint John, and the figures are surrounded by a delicate composition based on vegetable scrolls, with an angel's head at the foot of the piece. The other side shows the Resurrection of Jesus, with Christ emerging from the empty tomb...

The extraordinary beauty and superior craftsmanship of 17th century German clockmaking is on full display in this exceptionally rare horizontal tabletop timepiece dating to 1650 Augsburg. Created by Johannes Buschman the Younger, the eminent Buschman family of clockmakers are lauded for designing some of the finest timepieces to ever be created in the South German town of Augsburg during the late Renaissance and early Modern periods. A finely moulded ebony and turtleshell casing veneered in a mottled red hue holds the clock’s fusée and chain movement with verge escapement and balance with hogs-bristle regulation. A silver figure of Minerva, Roman goddess of war and wisdom, centers the Roman numeral-engraved chapter ring, indicating the time by pointing to the hour with an authoritative military staff as the sun rotates below her feet to indicate the minute. The incredible design is finished by a gilded backplate intricately pierced and engraved with a floral motif and the signature of Johannes Buschman. Clocks are one of the greatest and most important inventions of the Renaissance period, improving steadily into the Age of Discovery. Embodying a renewed interest in science, the arts and humanism, the first mechanical timepieces began appearing in the 14th century and were large, weight-driven devices placed in the turrets of public buildings that struck the hour and lacked hands and faces. This clock was created during the first period of household clocks, when spring-driven movements made it possible to create smaller and more complex mechanisms. Such creations, however, were a luxury accessible only to the wealthy upper classes. Affluent patrons placed pressure upon artisans to create more elaborate and ornate clocks...