Thomas Tompion, London No.87

Clockmaker: Thomas Tompion, London

A fine Phase I ebony table timepiece with silent pull quarter repeat. Circa 1687

Case

Ebony veneer and mouldings to the oak carcass, the domed top with chased, gilt brass scroll and garland mounts surmounted by a gilt thistle and bud handle. Front door with gilt brass scroll sound fret, gilt bellflower escutcheons. Pierced ebony frets to the sides and rear door. Case stamped with the number 87.

Dial

6 1/2 inch square gilded brass dial with three latched feet, finely matted centre and finely chased gilt winged cherub spandrels, Sculpted blued steel hands. Signed Tho Tompion Londini Fecit to the silvered chapter ring with small Arabic minutes and Roman hour numerals, sword hilt half hour markers.

Movement

Substantial single fusee timepiece movement with extended backplate signed Tho Tompion Londini Fecit in a rectangular reserve within the tulip engraving and punch numbered 87 at the base. Knife edge verge escapement with brass rob and bob. Silent pull-quarter repeat system, cocked via Tompion’s early Z-bar repeat lever operating from either side, the hours struck on the larger bell mounted above and the quarters on the smaller bell below.

Height 13 inches (33 cm)

Provenance. Private Collection UK.

Listed in Thomas Tompion 300 years and Thomas Tompion at the Dial and Three Crowns by Jeremy Evans.

Sold at Sothebys on 5 December 1958.

Thomas Tompion made approximately 650 clocks, less than 50 were table timepieces like this example. Tompion no.10, is in the Smithsonian, Washington, but has been re-veneered in turtleshell; Tompion no.15 is in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, which has had a gallery added to the case; while Tompion no.35, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, is very similar to Tompion no.42 and like no.87 is in good, visibly unaltered, condition.