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Lot Essay
Recent auction results for early Tompion striking clocks include a pre-numbered example sold Christie's, London, 3 November 2011, lot 114 (£301,250) and no. 16, sold Christie's, London, 4 July 2007, lot 164 (£150,000).
Made in Thomas Tompion's shop in the 1680s, this clock is a rare example of the master clockmaker's early table clocks and with atypical features, provides significant evidence on the various practices of his workshop in the late seventeenth century. The case and the movement are both stamped '8', which implies that it was made soon after Tompion instigated his pioneering numbering system in the early 1680s. According to the most recent scholarship on Tompion, clock no. 8 would have been among the earliest of the numbered clocks and made in about 1682. However, with several instances of clocks numbered under '40' bearing the same number, it is probable that the early numbers do not reflect a strict chronological timeline of production in the Tompion workshop (J. Evans, Thomas Tompion at the Dial and Three Crowns, Ticehurst, 2006, pp. 38, 71). Alternate theories include the possibility that approximately the first hundred of Tompion's numbered clocks were stamped post-production and only upon being returned to the maker for technological and perhaps decorative upgrades. This argument is supported by the evidence seen on this clock as its movement bears alterations done during the period and most likely in Tompion's workshop (see below). Furthermore, this clock features a square dial, phase I case design and a back plate decorated by the 'Tulip' engraver, all indicative of its production during the 1680s and early in Tompion's career. As described by Evans, the phase I case design consisted of a thistle-bud handle, cushion-moulded top and square dial and was used by Tompion from the late 1670s to about 1690, when the introduction of rectangular dials required a change in case design (see lot 57; Evans, op. cit., p. 68).
Of unusually narrow proportions with a partial installation of a pull quarter repeat and an early upgrade to the striking mechanism, the clock's movement documents varying designs and practices within Tompion's workforce. Similar proportions are seen on Tompion no. 38, which, like Tompion no. 8, has five rather than the customary seven pillars. A possible explanation for the presence of divergent practices is the use of more than one workshop. As discussed by Evans, Tompion may have maintained control over two premises on Water Lane in the late 1670s and 1680s. The only other known Tompion clock with five pillars is also on a smaller scale, a miniature pre-numbered clock (Evans, op. cit., pp. 52-53; G.E. Marsh, advertisement, Antiquarian Horology, vol. XV (Autumn 1984), p. 96; Christie's, London, 24 November 1992, lot 104). As illustrated in Connoisseur in 1933 (see Literature, above), the back plate contained vacant holes for a pull quarter repeat, which were probably filled in 1963 by well-known restorer Charles Hobson, whose scratched signature appears on the back plate. The case, however, bears no evidence of having corresponding holes and it is likely that the clock was conceived with the intention of having a pull quarter repeat, but perhaps due to client demands, this detail was abandoned during production. Originally, the movement was fitted with a countwheel striking mechanism, which has been converted to rack striking; of an early date and conforming to Tompion's practices, the rack strike was in all likelihood fitted in his workshop. Tompion no. 100, which survives without its original case, displays a similar conversion and as noted by Evans, was modified in Tompion's workshop (Evans, op. cit., p. 73; Sotheby's, London, 4 October 1968, lot 60). Interestingly, like nos. 38 and 8, no. 100 is one of the few phase I Tompion table clocks with both strike/no strike levers and date apertures.
Made in Thomas Tompion's shop in the 1680s, this clock is a rare example of the master clockmaker's early table clocks and with atypical features, provides significant evidence on the various practices of his workshop in the late seventeenth century. The case and the movement are both stamped '8', which implies that it was made soon after Tompion instigated his pioneering numbering system in the early 1680s. According to the most recent scholarship on Tompion, clock no. 8 would have been among the earliest of the numbered clocks and made in about 1682. However, with several instances of clocks numbered under '40' bearing the same number, it is probable that the early numbers do not reflect a strict chronological timeline of production in the Tompion workshop (J. Evans, Thomas Tompion at the Dial and Three Crowns, Ticehurst, 2006, pp. 38, 71). Alternate theories include the possibility that approximately the first hundred of Tompion's numbered clocks were stamped post-production and only upon being returned to the maker for technological and perhaps decorative upgrades. This argument is supported by the evidence seen on this clock as its movement bears alterations done during the period and most likely in Tompion's workshop (see below). Furthermore, this clock features a square dial, phase I case design and a back plate decorated by the 'Tulip' engraver, all indicative of its production during the 1680s and early in Tompion's career. As described by Evans, the phase I case design consisted of a thistle-bud handle, cushion-moulded top and square dial and was used by Tompion from the late 1670s to about 1690, when the introduction of rectangular dials required a change in case design (see lot 57; Evans, op. cit., p. 68).
Of unusually narrow proportions with a partial installation of a pull quarter repeat and an early upgrade to the striking mechanism, the clock's movement documents varying designs and practices within Tompion's workforce. Similar proportions are seen on Tompion no. 38, which, like Tompion no. 8, has five rather than the customary seven pillars. A possible explanation for the presence of divergent practices is the use of more than one workshop. As discussed by Evans, Tompion may have maintained control over two premises on Water Lane in the late 1670s and 1680s. The only other known Tompion clock with five pillars is also on a smaller scale, a miniature pre-numbered clock (Evans, op. cit., pp. 52-53; G.E. Marsh, advertisement, Antiquarian Horology, vol. XV (Autumn 1984), p. 96; Christie's, London, 24 November 1992, lot 104). As illustrated in Connoisseur in 1933 (see Literature, above), the back plate contained vacant holes for a pull quarter repeat, which were probably filled in 1963 by well-known restorer Charles Hobson, whose scratched signature appears on the back plate. The case, however, bears no evidence of having corresponding holes and it is likely that the clock was conceived with the intention of having a pull quarter repeat, but perhaps due to client demands, this detail was abandoned during production. Originally, the movement was fitted with a countwheel striking mechanism, which has been converted to rack striking; of an early date and conforming to Tompion's practices, the rack strike was in all likelihood fitted in his workshop. Tompion no. 100, which survives without its original case, displays a similar conversion and as noted by Evans, was modified in Tompion's workshop (Evans, op. cit., p. 73; Sotheby's, London, 4 October 1968, lot 60). Interestingly, like nos. 38 and 8, no. 100 is one of the few phase I Tompion table clocks with both strike/no strike levers and date apertures.