The Norfolk Fromanteel SOLD

SOLD

Ahasuerus Fromanteel, Londini Fecit Circa 1660

A highly important ebony veneered architectural and gilt brass mounted striking longcase clock.

The Norfolk Fromanteel was made by master clockmaker Ahasuerus Fromanteel and represents a hugely significant chapter in early horological development. This clock is the earliest to be designed as a longcase, and its case is the first example of an architectural format case.

In 1658, Ahasureus Fromanteel introduced the pendulum to London, a significant innovation that revolutionised timekeeping by dramatically improving the accuracy of clocks. Prior to this, clockmakers mainly produced brass wall hanging clocks known as lantern clocks. These clocks were wound daily had a single hour hand to the dial, and their movement was controlled by a balance. Consequently, the timekeeping of such clocks could vary by 5 to 10 minutes per day, necessitating daily corrections during winding.

Fromanteel’s innovative pendulum clocks achieved remarkable precision, maintaining time within a minute per week. This accuracy was readily observable on the dial, which featured an additional minute hand. The elimination of daily time adjustments further enhanced the practicality of these clocks. Consequently, Fromanteel designed his clocks to be wound once a week, ensuring their consistent and reliable performance. In order to run for eight days and strike, heavier clock weights were needed. This was problematic for a wall hanging clock and so a case was designed to be floor standing. Encasing the movement, weights and pendulum in a longcase enabled clock technology to advance whilst simultaneously making the clock a sophisticated and attractive high status piece in the world of decorative furnishing.

Case

The slender ebony veneered architectural case of delicate proportions. The rising hood with fine mouldings to the triangular pediment, the tympanum mounted with a gilt brass cartouche flanked by figures and engraved with the heraldic badge of the Fitzalan family, Earls of Arundel. The frieze with gilt mount above cast, chased and mercurially gilt Corinthian capitals on three quarter tapered ebony columns to the front and matching half columns to the rear. The narrow trunk with long, full width, rectangular raised panel door and matching moulded panels to the recessed sides. The plain plinth raised on four turned bun feet.

Richard Garnier and Leo Hollis present evidence in their book “Innovation and Collaboration - the early development of the pendulum clock” that the case was designed by the architect John Webb. At the age of 17 in 1628, Webb began working for Inigo Jones, the leading architect of the mid-17th century in England. Jones’ designs influenced classical design in English architecture, as evident in the Queen’s House at Greenwich.

Dial

The 8 ¼ inch gilt dial signed to the lower margin A Fromanteel Londini Fecit with narrow chapter ring having Roman hour numerals and five minute Arabic minute numerals on the outer edge. The centre of the dial has a gilt floral casting with a date aperture below. The date of the month indication, located behind the dial, is a solid disc, supporting the hypothesis that this clock is one of , if not the first longcase clock to feature date indication. Later clocks with date indication use a date ring as opposed to a solid disc. Finely cast gilt cherub corner spandrels. Finely pierced and facetted blued steel hour and minute hands.

Movement

The early type movement with rectangular plates secured by ten turned knopped pillars latched on the front plate, which is divided to allow the dismantling of each train separately. An eight day movement with both trains of five wheels, the intermediate wheels between great wheels and centre pinion resulting in anti clockwise winding. The verge escapement with short bob pendulum has the front pivot of the verge pallet arbor mounted in a cock above the front plate. The back pivot is held in a roller cage consisting of two roller wheels within an oval plated subsidiary assembly. The roller cage assembly is known to have been used in only three clocks. The Norfolk Fromanteel is considered to be the earliest known to have been fitted with a roller cage assembly, a very rare feature that was at some time removed and later restored by Dan Parkes in 1970 using the design of the only known original roller cage of the Oxford Fromanteel. The hour striking is controlled by a small outside count wheel, the bell and hammer are positioned high above the plates. The movement is secured to the backboard of the case with two brackets.

Height 6 ft 1 ½ ins (187 cm)

Provenance

The Norfolk Fromanteel, was commissioned by the Earl of Arundel, the 6th Duke of Norfolk, Henry Howard. At the centre of the tympanum, within the pediment of the case hood is a gilt cartouche, adorned with an engraved image of a springing horse holding an oak sprig in its mouth, the heraldic badge of the Fitzalan family, Earls of Arundel.

Henry Howard’s residence, Arundel House, situated on the Strand in London, was one of the few buildings that managed to escape the devastation wrought by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Consequently, this clock was preserved within Howard’s home. During the reconstruction of the Royal Society’s building, Howard graciously offered his residence as a venue for meetings, where his Fromanteel longcase would have undoubtedly captivated the leading scientific community of Britain at that time.

This clock has had seven known owners in the last 354 years. It is currently part of the John C Taylor Collection and was exhibited at the ‘Innovation & Collaboration exhibition - the early development of the pendulum clock’ in London, September 2018.