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31520C.BR
EDMUND MASSEY, HIGH HOLBORNE, LONDON. A VERY SMALL WILLIAM & MARY EBONISED TIMEPIECE SPRING CLOCK WITH PULL QUARTER REPEAT BY AN APRENTICE OF JOSEPH KNIBB. CIRCA 1690.

An extremely small and well proportioned basket top bracket clock. The ebonised case has an attractive and well cast shallow basket to the top with four gilded finials. The front door has nicely cast escutcheons to the sides and the whole clock stands on small brass bun feet.

The 6" brass dial has cherub head spandrels to the corner and a well matted centre with a ringed winding hole above 6 o’clock. The silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals and Arabic outer numerals has quarter minute divisions on the inside of the chapter ring and fleur de lys half hour markers. Interestingly the dial would appear to have been originally started for a two train clock as small pilot holes were drilled through the plates in the position one would expect for a two train clock. These holes are not big enough for a winding square and were therefore never finished. They were professionally plugged at the time the dial was made. The pull quarter repeat work has been reinstated in a slightly different position than originally and that has necessitated the moving of one of the dial pillars.

The eight day gut fusee movement has five beautifully knopped pillars and latched dial feet. The movement appears never to have been converted to anchor escapement, although work has been done to the verge. The reinstated pull quarter repeat strikes the quarters on two bells mounted above the movement. The engraved backplate has wheatear edging and scrolled foliat engraving to the centre of the backplate.

Height to base of handle: 11.75" (30 cms.).

Price band: F

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Edmund Massey was born in 1660. He was apprenticed to Joseph Knibb in December 1673 in London and became a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in January 1683. Further details can be found in ‘Early Clockmakers of Great Britiain’ by Brian Loomes.