John Topping, London

SOLD

A fine George I ebony table clock with pull quarter repeat. The break arch brass dial with silvered chapter ring, matted centre, calendar aperture and false pendulum aperture with silvered cartouche signed John Topping, Memory Master, London. Rise and fall regulation to the arch. Blued steel hands. The substantial five pillar movement with verge escapement and pull quarter repeat. The backplate with finely engraved foliage signed John Topping Memory Master London.

The ebony case is in wonderful condition with crisp mouldings, it has an inverted bell top and heavy brass carrying handle, pierced brass sound frets to the doors and glazed panels to the sides. Fine mouldings surround the glazed aperture and the front door.

Date circa 1725

Height. 16 inches (40 cm)

John Topping was a London clockmaker born in 1677 and apprenticed to William Grimes until 1698. He is known as a maker of interesting and complicated equation of time longcase clocks and signed himself 'Memory Master', although the reason is unknown. The clockmaker Francis Gregg produced clocks of almost identical design to John Topping, suggesting there was an association between the two makers. I sold a very similar table clock by Francis Gregg that can be seen on my website.