Premier Clocks

The clocks in this section give a view into our high quality inventory.
We have many others in stock and in restoration that are not illustrated here by makers such as;
Daniel Quare, Henricus Jones, Edward Stanton, George Etherington, Charles Gretton, Robert Dingley, Jospeh Windmills and various others.
If you are looking for something special please contact us, we may be able to help.

Nicholas Wilson, Kendal C. 1780

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Joseph Windmills, London C.1695

Pierre Le Maire, Paris C1675

Andrew Brown, Edinburgh C1695.

William Kipling, London C1715-20

John Clowes, London C1690.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 10.8pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ref 569<br />A fine 17<sup>th</sup> century ebony bracket clock by John Clowes, London C1690.</span></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 10.8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The ebony case has brass bun feet, carrying handle, front and side frets with silk backing. The substantial twin fusee 8-day hour striking movement has 5 beautifully turned pillars, verge escapement, and pull quarter repeat on 3 bells. The backplate is exquisitely engraved with flowers and foliage, a wheatear border, and a signed backcock. The 7"</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 14pt;"> square dial has cherub head corner spandrels, date aperture, mock pendulum, ringed winding holes and a strike silent lever. There is fine engraving to the dial centre and the chapter ring is signed John Clowes, London.<br /><br /></span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">John Clowes born in 1651, free of the clockmakers company in 1672. Both he and his brother James were renowned for the quality of their clocks. John is recorded as making “a rich pendulum weekly clock” for the king.</span></p>

Robert Williamson, London C.1685.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 15pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ref No 532<br />A very fine and small ebony bracket clock by Robert Williamson, London C.1685.</span></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 14pt;">The ebony vennered case has brass escutcheons, bun feet, carrying handle and brass dome mounts which cover silk covered sound apertures.<br /><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The well made twin fuse 8-day hour striking movement has 5 beautifully turned pillars, verge escapement, pull quarter repeat on 2 bells and a strike-silent lever. The backplate is exquisitely engraved with flowers and foliage and is fully signed in a cartouche. The 7"</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> square dial has cherub corner spandrels, original hands, central engraved Tudor rose and a date aperture surrounded by engraving.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Robert Williamson, a fine maker was apprenticed in 1658 to John harris. He was free of the clockmakers company in 1666 and was working in St. Bartholemews Lane near Royal Exchange. He was assistant in the Clockmakers Company from 1682, warden from 1685 and master in 1698. He died around 1704.</span></p>

Robert Mathison, Edinburgh C1760.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 14.25pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A most unusual and rare striking regulator in a burr elm case by Robert Mathison, Edinburgh C1760.</span></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 14.25pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The flat topped hood has a front fret, side windows and front and rear brass capped attached pillars. There is a crossbanded arched trunk door and a matching panel in the base which sits on a small apron.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c0504d; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Note: This case is most attractive with fine quality veneers and the subtle use of dark mahogany edging and mouldings.<br /></span></em></strong><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The movement has stepped plates, 5 turned pillars, dead beat escapement, centre seconds, maintaining power, rack striking with flirt release and the pin wheel has rollers on each pin, there are endcaps on several arbors.<br /><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The 2 drive barrels are set on 4 friction rollers front and rear (as used by Harrison). The wood rod pendulum has a huge brass bob with rating nut beneath. The 12"</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 14pt;"> silvered dial has foliage engraved corners, minute and centre seconds hands are counter balanced, maintain power lever and is fully signed.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">Robert Mathison was apprenticed to James Nicholl in Cannongate, Edinburgh in 1738. It is assumed he spent most of his working life there, but he also appeared in Berwick-On-Tweed around 1760. <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">Robert Mathieson died in Berwick On tweed in 1769.</span></span></p>

Robert Dingley, London C1690.

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 3.75pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt;">A fine walnut marquetry clock by Robert Dingley, London C1690.</span></strong></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 3.75pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The flat topped hood has a fret, long side windows, barley twist columns and flower and foliage marquetry around the door. A long trunk door has applied ½ round edging, a glass lenticle and is divided up into 3 marquetry panels. There is a square panel of marquetry in the base which sits on bun feet. The sides are set into panels.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 3.75pt;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Note: The attractive marquetry retains some of its original colour.</span></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 3.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The excellent 8-day movement has 5 finely turned pillars, good wheelwork and strikes the hours on a bell via an inside countwheel. The 11in</span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt;"> dial has winged cherub head spandrels, fine hands, ringed winding holes, date aperture with engraved decoration and is signed on the chapter ring. <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Robert Dingley, London”.</em></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "><br />Robert Dingley was born in 1647. The son of Thomas of Ewell Surrey. He was apprenticed in 1661 to Richard Pierce and was freed in 1668. He was a renowned early maker of longcase clocks and watches and died in 1698.</span></p>

Clerke 1 Royal Exchange, London No5050 C1870.

Thomas Ogden near Halifax C1730.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 11.85pt 10pt 11.25pt; tab-stops: 7.1pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">An exceptional early mahogany longcase clock by Thomas Ogden near Halifax C1730.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 11.85pt 10pt 11.25pt; tab-stops: 7.1pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The hood has a broken arch top with central giltwood finial and free standing pillars with turned wood capitals. The long trunk door has a two hump shaped top and the base sits on small bracket feet. This case shows the early use of straight grained mahogany in the solid.<br /><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The 8-day movement demonstrates the belief that Thomas Ogden was the finest provincial clockmaker with six beautifully turned pillars, arched plates, anchor escapement, positive moon drive via a wheel train and strikes the hours on a bell via a rack. ( Please see the pics of his outstanding workmanship) the 13" dial has corner and arch spandrels, all round wheatear border,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>an engraved centre with ringed winding holes and date aperture inserts and a seconds dial. In the arch is a penny moon with a large age of the moon ring. The hour, minute and age of the moon hands are original and exceptional; it is signed on the chapter ring “Tho Ogden near Halifax”. This would indicate that this clock was made at Ripponden prior to his move into Halifax.<br /></span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin: 0cm 11.85pt 0pt 11.25pt; tab-stops: 7.1pt;"><span style="font-family: "><span style="font-size: large;">Thomas Ogden was a Quaker, born in 1693 in Ripponden, he was the son of Samuel who was also a clockmaker. He worked initially at Ripponden then moved to Halifax and soon became the finest clockmaker there. He aimed at the quality market and made clocks for local landowners and gentry. Clocks by him include features such as; astronomical dials, globe moons, world time dials, seconds in the arch etc. He usually housed his clocks in grand cases of oak, walnut mahogany, which often showed a Lancashire or particularly Gillows influence. Sometimes he would engrave a Latin inscription on his dials referring to the passage of time and man’s mortality. He died in 1769. In our view Thomas Ogden was probably the finest provincial maker of the 18<sup>th</sup> century.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">Further history upon request.</span></p>

Daniel Quare, London C1695.

J.Le Maire, Paris

<p>An exceptionally fine and rare French Louis X1V Religieuse clock by J.Le Maire. The case from the workshops of Andre Charles Boulle C.1680 The fine case has red shell veneer exquisitely inlaid with engraved pewter and brass. Elegant corner columns have built up Corinthian caps. The side and front windows have arched ormolu surrounds and the caddy top surmounts all round balustrades. There are eight top finials and the case sits on decorated ball feet. The most beautifully made movement strikes the hours and 1/2 hours on a bell, it has 5 turned vase shaped back pinned pillars, large spring barrels, finely decorated metal work, silk suspended verge escapement with outside cycloidal cheeks, and an outside countwheel. The backplate is fully signed. The velvet covered dial has a 7 1/4 " applied silvered chapter ring with numbered outside minutes, engraved brass hands and an ormolu figure of Chronos holding up the dial with a silvered signature plaque beneath.</p>
<p>This clock is illustrated plate7 in "Early French Pendulum Clocks 1658 - 1700" by Reinier Plomp pg 18.</p>

William Turner London

<p>A magnificent George III mahogany longcase clock by William Turner London The hood has an arched top surmounted by 3 ball and spire finials. The arched glazed door is flanked by Corinthian capped reeded columns, which are brass inlaid on the bottom third. The arched trunk door, with moulded edges and cross banding is flanked by reeded pillars with Corinthian caps and brass inlay. The inlaid base is set on an apron. The eight day 5 pillar movement striking on a bell has a 12" arched brass dial with strike/silent in the arch, corner spandrels, raised chapter ring, seconds and date dials. The centre is matted and contains a silvered signature plate. William Turner was apprenticed in 1734 and was working in Church St. Spitafields, London until 1772.</p>

Samuel Macham, London C1700

Peter Walker, London C1690.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 6.75pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A very fine and rare mulberry longcase clock by Peter Walker, London C1690.</span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The hood has a flat top with a fret beneath, side windows and tapering brass capped pillars. The trunk has a 42"</span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "> long door with a glass lenticle and the base sits on bun feet. The whole case is veneered in the most wonderfully figured mulberry wood which is laid into panels.<br /><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The 8-day movement has 5 finely turned pillars, good wheelwork and strikes the hours via an inside countwheel. The 10 - 5/8 "</span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "> dial has brass cherub spandrels, seconds dial, ringed winding holes and a date aperture with surrounding engraving. It has original hands and is signed on the chapter ring “Peter Walker Wild St End”.<br /><br /></span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">Peter Walker was apprenticed to Andrew Savory of London in 1681, a maker of repute. He died in Amsterdam in 1730.</span></p>

Edward Bridgeman, Covent Garden, London C.1675 - 80

<p>An exceptionally rare table clock by Edward Bridgeman, Covent Garden, London C.1675 - 80</p>
<p>The case of transitional design displays the very early use of Brazilian rosewood veneers set off with ebonised pearwood mouldings. All the mounts are original. The eight day, hourly striking movement has 6 pinned pillars, verge escapement, maintaining power, strike-silent, pull 1/4 repeat on 2 bells and a beautifully engraved backplate. Note: A very fine olivewood and marquetry longcase clock by Edward Bridgeman is in Powis Castle.<br /><br /> Edward Bridgeman was apprenticed in July 1655 to John Matchett. He was free of the clockmakers company in October 1662 and probably took over from Matchett at Russell St, Covent Garden. He died in 1698.</p>

Thomas Johnson C1690.

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 11.55pt 10pt 15.75pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>A most exquisite walnut marquetry longcase clock by Thomas Johnson, Ratcliffe Cross, London C1690.</strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 11.55pt 10pt 15.75pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt;">The flat topped hood has a fret, side windows, barley twist columns and flower and foliage marquetry around the door. The long trunk door has applied ½ round edging, a glass lenticle, and is divided up with 3 marquetry panels. There is a square panel of marquetry on the base, which sits on bun feet.<br /><br /><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Note: The attractive bird flower and foliage marquetry retains some of its original colour.</em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 11.55pt 10pt 15.75pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt;">The excellent 8-day movement has 5 finely turned pillars, anchor escapement, good wheelwork and strikes the hours on a bell via an inside countwheel. The 10 3/4"</span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> dial has winged cherub head spandrels, fine hands, ringed winding holes, date aperture with engraved decoration and is signed on the chapter ring <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Tho Johnson, London”.</em><br /><br /></span></p>
<span style="line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">Thomas Johnson was born in Stepney in 1649. He was apprenticed to Richard Drake in 1662 through the Blacksmiths company and worked at Ratcliffe Cross from 1680 – 1703. He took several apprentices from the Blacksmiths company including William Kipling in 1695, who later married his daughter Elizabeth. Thomas died around 1703</span></span></span></span></span></span> </p>

John Wright, Dorking.

John Shaw, Holbourn, London C.1700

Thomas Chamberlaine, London C.1680

<p>An early ebonised pine longcase clock by Thomas Chamberlaine, London C.1680. This clock has a rising hood with spoon lock and catch, a shallow caddy top with 3 wood finials, a fret, giltwood capped twist columns, 8" long side windows and convex moulds beneath. The trunk has a 43 1/2 " long door hinged directly onto the side and has an octagonal lenticle. The plain base sits on 4 bun feet. The eight day, hour striking movement has thin plates held together with 5 beautifully turned and latched pillars, it has a very early anchor escapement with long drooping arms and an inside countwheel operated by an outside detent through the backplate. An interesting feature is the backcock, which is identical to some used by Johannes Fromanteel and has the same casting fault. A beautifully engraved Tudor rose centres the 10" dial. It has early cherub head spandrels, second's dial, date aperture, shallow ringed winding holes and is signed on the chapter ring "Tho. Chamberlaine, Londini". The Chamberlaines were a well established family of clockmakers the founding member Nathaniel was free of the clockmakers company in 1659. It is not clear how Thomas fits in but it may be he is the one listed by the clockmakers company as Thomas Chambers working in Westminster in 1662. His work clearly shows he was familiar with the work of the early masters and in particular Johannes Fromanteel.</p>

Joshua Harrocks, of Lancaster C.1760

<p>The hood with broken arcitechural top and central finial has an arched glazed moulded frame door with criss-cross wood frets flanking the arch, freestanding reeded pillars with turned wood capitals and matching 1/2 pillars to the rear. The throat moulding and the top of the trunk have blind fretwork bands, above the long round topped trunk door, which is edged with raised mouldings and is flanked by reeded 1/4 columns. The base with canted angles and shaped raised panel has Sheraton fan inlays, as has the trunk. The 4-pillar 8-day movement striking the hours on a bell has a 13in arched brass dial, and date aperture. Large headed cherub spandrels to the corners with the centre engraved with foliage. The arch has a painted hunting scene and is signed on a silvered strip `Joshua Harrocks, Lancaster.` The winding holes and date aperture have black wax surrounds a peculiarity found only in the Lancaster area.</p>

Joseph Martineau, London C.1750

Handley & Moore, London C.1805

Thomas Speakman, London C.1695.

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Boothsbank Farm, Leigh Road, Worsley, Manchester M28 1LL. England