Daniel Quare, London Circa 1695

A rare William III ebony and gilt brass mounted full Grande Sonnerie striking table clock. One of only three recorded Grande Sonnerie table clocks by Daniel Quare.

Case

The case veneered in ebony onto an oak carcass. The cushion-domed top with fine gilt-brass mask and foliate scroll mounts to the front and sides, surmounted by a gilt double-S scroll, centrally ring-turn decorated, knopped handle, typical to Quare. The main ebony cornice moulding above the dial door with gilt-brass sound fret to the top rail, the side rails mounted with gilt escutcheons, the case sides with matching applied gilt-brass sound frets over rectangular glazed apertures. Standing on four gilt-brass ringed bun feet.

Dial

The eight by nine inch rectangular gilt-brass dial, with four subsidiary dials to

the corners for pendulum regulation, strike silent, pendulum lock and repeat/not repeat. Gilt foliate-scroll repoussé mounts between, signed Quare at the top and London at the bottom between the mounts. The upper subsidiary dials for pendulum

regulation and Strike/Silent, the lower for pendulum lock and Repeat/Not Repeat.

The silvered chapter ring with Roman hours and sword-hilt half-hour

markers, signed D. Quare, London. The matted centre with three winding holes, calendar aperture above VI and mock-pendulum aperture, all decorated with ring turns. Blued steel pierced and sculpted hands.

Movement

The substantial eight day full Grande Sonnerie movement with six pillars, pivoted verge escapement and pendulum suspended from a rise and fall bar above and locked by twin levers below. Striking the hours on the larger bell and the quarters train on six graduated bells. The backplate beautifully engraved with a line scored border and symmetrical, entwining, foliate scrolls with garlands of fruit, signed Dan. Quare London in a central wheatear-bordered oval. The engraving attributed to Graver 195. The movement held by four blued steel brackets to the case.

Provenance

H. S. Wharton Esq.;

The John C Taylor Collection, inventory no.120

Exhibited

2004, Palais Het Loo, Holland, Huygens’ Legacy, exhibit no.81

Literature Huygens’ Legacy, 2004, p.148-151

Height 17¾ inches (45 cm)