Joseph Knibb, London

Clockmaker: Joseph Knibb, London

A very fine Charles II walnut month duration longcase clock. Circa 1675

Case

The elegant case veneered in highly figured walnut. The hood with original shallow dome top above cornice mouldings, with solid frieze over Solomonic reflective columns with integral turned capitals and bases. Convex throat mouldings to the trunk, the long trunk door framed by half round cross grain mouldings and veneered in book matched sections. Crossbanded plinth with book matched veneer resting on later bun feet.

Dial

The superb 10 inch square fire gilded dial, 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 to the dial with calendar aperture below XII and floral engraving between the cherub spandrels to the corners. Fine original blued steel pierced and sculpted hands.

Movement

The month duration movement with four fine knopped pillars, all latched to the shaped plates, the single going train planted vertically in line. Typical single foot shaped Knibb backcock, pinned brass pendulum crutch to the spring suspended brass rod pendulum with lenticular Knibb brass threaded bob. Five wheel reverse wound train. The movement secured to the backboard via a bracket and resting on the original oak seatboard with the original steel pins through the bottom pillars.

Height: 6ft 10 inches (208 cm)

The few examples of timepiece longcase clock by Joseph Knibb include a pair of walnut timepiece (non striking) longcase clocks, bought by the Astronomer James Gregory for the University of St. Andrews in 1673. The clocks are still at The University of St. Andrews and illustrated in R. A Lee’s book The Knibb Family Clockmakers.

The wonderful case on this example has the distinctive Knibb case features including the reversed strap hinges and door lock placed higher up.

Literature

R A Lee, The Knibb Family Clockmakers. 1964, Plate 30