STEPHEN ASSELIN, LONDON. CIRCA 1705

Details

A Queen Anne ebonised and brass-mounted eight day striking table clock
Stephen Asselin, London. Circa 1705
The case surmounted by the figure of Christ above a double basket top incorporating vignettes depicting scenes from His life, the corners mounted with figures of the four Evangelists, with cast handles to the sides above glazed panels applied with repoussé brass frames, the front and rear doors applied with further gilt mounts embellished with Christian iconography, raised on lion and ball feet, the 7 in. square dial with winged cherub mask spandrels to silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring with sword hilt half hour and half quarter hour markers, strike/not strike lever above XII, date square with pin hole adjustment to the matted centre also with mock pendulum aperture signed Asselin London on its back plate, probably later blued steel hands, the twin line and fusee movement with five ringed pillars and reconverted verge escapement, hour strike on bell and quarter repeat on a nest of five bells, the back plate with repeat signature, wheatear border and foliate scroll engraving around a centurion figure
21 1/2 in. (55 cm.) high

Provenance

Sotheby's New York, Masterpieces from the Time Museum, Part II, 19 June 2002, lot 165. Time Museum Inventory No.1097.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

A number of clocks in the period 1700-1720 are signed by Stephen Asselin but he seems to have been unknown to the Clockmakers Company. A month duration marquetry longcase by Asselin is illustrated in Derek Roberts, British Longcase Clocks, Schiffer, 1990, p.54, fig.73. The religious iconography of the present clock is highly unusual and points to a likely special commission.

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