A Queen Anne ebonised and brass-mounted striking table clock, circa 1705

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Details

A Queen Anne ebonised and brass-mounted striking table clock, circa 1705
The case with addorsed eagle head cast handle to repoussé basket top, replaced(?) urn and pineapple finials to the corners, repoussé brass mounts to the side panels, formerly with mounts to the front door, the stepped base raised on later scroll feet, the 7in. square brass dial with winged cherub masks to a silvered Roman chapter ring with narrow minute track and sword-hilt half hour markers, matted centre with engraved centre and further engraving around the date aperture, strike/not strike above XII (lacking lever), blued steel hands (restored), the movement with five slender ringed pillars, twin gut fusees and now with anchor escapement, internal rack hour strike on bell, lacking pull quarter repeat, the back plate engraved with floral scrolls, tulips and thistles and signed John Greenhill of Maidstone, secured to the case with turn catches and with a bolt through the baseboard and onto the front plate -- 13¾in. (35.5cm.) high

Special notice

This lot is subject to Collection and Storage Charges. No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

The Greenhills were a prolific family of clockmakers, gunsmiths and locksmiths and amongst their number were some of finest artisans working in Kent in the 17th century. It is probable that the present clock is by the third John Greenhill, who is thought to have been born circa 1655. He became a member of the Corporation of Maidstone and owned a substantial number of properties. In 1687 he and other council members were expelled from the Corporation by order of James II, but he subsequently served on the council again and in 1702 was elected Mayor of Maidstone. Upon his death in 1712 he left an extensive will and was presumably very wealthy. See Michael Pearson, Kent Clocks and Clockmakers, pp.67-84.

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