Joseph Knibb, London SOLD

Clockmaker: Joseph Knibb, London

SOLD

Joseph Knibb, London c.1675

An important Charles II olive wood oyster grande-sonnerie longcase clock.

Case

The olive wood oyster and floral marquetry case with green stained bone leaves, ebonised barley twist columns to the rising hood with blind fret. Oval brass frame lenticle to the long trunk door.

Dial

The 10 inch square dial with wheatear engraved border signed Joseph Knibb. Londini Fecit to the lower margin, narrow silvered chapter ring with Roman hour numerals, Arabic five minutes and fleur-de-lys half hour markers. Finely matted centre, calendar aperture below XII and cherub spandrels to the corners. Fine blued steel sculpted hands.

Movement

The three train, ten pillar latched movement with split front plate secured to the backboard via a bracket, outside countwheels and Knibb butterfly suspension for the regulation. Brass cased weights and Knibb pendulum, with butterfly regulation.

Height 6ft 5ins

Grande sonnerie clocks strike the hour after every quarter and are very rare, Thomas Tompion is known to have made just three numbered grande sonnerie longcase clocks. The requirements of a grande sonnerie clock are very demanding as the hours train has to strike the bell 4,992 times during the course of eight days, compared to a conventional clock which has to strike only 1,248 times.