31204

FINE ANTIQUE CLOCKS.
Established 1968.
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31204C.L
JOHN JOSEPH MERLIN. A UNIQUE STRIKING DOMESTIC REGULATOR BY THIS FASCINATING AND WELL KNOWN INVENTOR AND CLOCKMAKER. CIRCA 1790.

The only known longcase clock by John Merlin. It is in a most unusual case, the design of which is nothing like normal British longcase clocks, but owes much more of its design to Continental influence and also to the methods and woods used in the construction of pianos and harpsichords of the period for which Merlin was well known.

The case, which is of tapering form from bottom to top, is predominantly veneered in satinwood but all the edges are cross banded and then edged with walnut. The circular hood of the clock is permanently fixed to the case and has an opening brass bezel to give access to the dial and winding holes. The main trunk of the case then tapers out from the top through a large round glazed centre section, through which can be seen the pendulum bob, and into the further tapering bottom of the case and finally into shaped and splayed feet. There is a door on the side of the round section of the case which gives access to the large bob for the pendulum. Access to the rest of the clock is gained through the rear of the case which has two large latched doors to the trunk of the case and the smaller opening rear door giving access to the rear of the movement.

The clock has a round porcelain dial with Roman numerals and repeat Arabic numerals outside. It has two beautifully shaped gilded brass hands, the hour hand having a crescent moon holding a five pointed star and the minute hand of more typical moon shape. It has a centre sweep seconds hand of blued steel, again with a crescent moon counter balance.

The eight day rack striking movement is most unusual. It has six substantial knopped pillars and has a deadbeat escapement mounted on a bridge on the backplate. The pallets of the escapement are inverted and in the form of a ‘Y’ with beat adjustment to the crutch mechanism. The under dial work has a balance weight on a subsidiary wheel for the minute hand and the strike work, which employs a rack, strikes the hours on a bell mounted above the movement.

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The pendulum is a particularly interesting part of the clock. The pendulum bob, which is original to the clock, is massive and has a porcelain dial let into it signed for the maker, ‘Merlin, Hanover Square, Inventer.’ It has 100 graduations on it and a gilded brass pointer. This pointer shows the amount of movement either up or down that the pendulum has been subjected to via its rating nut. Some of the other documentation on the clock suggests that this could originally have been a dial to show the amount of compensation given via a compensated pendulum, but we do not believe this to be the case as, were this bob to have a compensated pendulum rod, the amount of movement that could be shown on the dial would be miniscule and would not require a full dial with 100 graduations. We, therefore, think it highly likely that the clock was originally made with a wooden rod similar to the one it now has and that the dial was just to show the fine adjustment that had taken place, rather than relying on a pointer onto a graduation nut. The pendulum is suspended from a substantial back cock fixed to the base of the movement.

Height: 7' (214 cms.)

Price band: F

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Much has been written about John Joseph Merlin and an exhibition of his work was held at Kenwood House, accompanied by a very fine catalogue. This clock was one of only two clocks by Merlin which were in that exhibition. There is no other surviving longcase clock known by Merlin, although there is a spherical skeleton clock by him which is known. This skeleton clock was bought for the Nation and donated to Kenwood House having previously had an Export Certificate refused because of its importance.

John Joseph Merlin was born in 1735, close to Maastricht. His early working life was centred around Paris where he is reputed to have been encouraged to move by the Academie des Sciences. He clearly showed promise as a young mechanic and was brought over to England by the Conde de Fuentes who had been appointed Ambassador in London. He arrived there is 1760. By 1763 he was involved in the preparation and finishing of a large barrel organ for the Princess of Wales at Carlton House. He then spent sometime working for and with James Cox where is he reputed to have been Cox’s right hand man. This would appear to be borne out by the fact that Merlin’s own later automata are similar in many respects to those in Cox’s Museum in 1772. His main specialization was mathematical instruments, mechanical music and harpsichords and other musical instruments, although he often referred to himself as well as a watch and clockmaker in general. However, the facts are that very few clocks by Merlin remain, the only two that we know of are this example and the spherical skeleton clock which is signed by him and dated 1776. There are also a number of watches known but these would appear to have been produced by somebody else and then signed or retailed by Merlin.

He had a huge number of very important patrons, in particular Thomas Gainsborough, Sir Edward Walpole, J C Bach and others.