Clocks

Highlights from the first tranche of the clock collection of Isle of Man entrepreneur and horologist Dr John C Taylor (b.1936) were offered for sale by dealership Carter Marsh in London last week.

While the Taylor collection is this summer’s horological focus – “a once in a generation event” is how one dealer described it – plenty of other purchasing opportunities are available for enthusiasts of the best in early English clockmaking.

The first clocks represented the pinnacle of English technology and often lead the way in fashion.

This walnut longcase, c.1710, by Daniel Quare (1648/49-1724) with a month duration movement is priced at £95,000 by Howard Walwyn.

A fine late 17th century ebony veneered quarter repeating table timepiece by the father of English clockmaking, Thomas Tompion, leads Bonhams’ Fine Clocks sale in London on June 22.

John Ebsworth was in the first rank of early makers who were working during the last quarter of the 17th century.

This Victorian gilt-brass month-going tripod clock by Thomas Cole is engraved with a dedication dated July 6, 1861, from the Marchioness of Anglesey as a birthday present to her husband, the 2nd Marquess of Anglesey.

The first tranche of one of the finest English clock collections in private hands comes for sale in London and Winchester this summer

Perhaps the finest assemblage of English clocks in private hands goes on sale in the summer at Winchester dealership Carter Marsh.

The work of French designer Fred Brouard (1944-99) is not uncommon at sales in France and the US but seldom appears at auction in the UK.

Peter Closon (c.1594-c.1662) was one of the most prolific of the so-called First Period lantern clock makers – although little is known about his life.

Howard Walwyn Fine Antique Clocks in Kensington Church Street has been transformed into 18th century Toledo for a bedroom farce.

Among the works of art on sale at Hampel in Munich on March 25-26 is a so-called Pendule au Manège from the early 19th century.

A recent Reeman Dansie sale in Colchester included 80 pieces from the estate of the well-known dealer Jane Sumner, who died last September at the age of 82.

Salerooms seize the chance as traditional dedicated auctions fade away in London

This 19in (48cm) high late 18th century English mahogany cased bracket clock is one of the horological entries in Fontaine’s online auction to be held in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on November 14.

The latest Clocks & Watches sale at Gardiner Houlgate (20% buyer’s premium) in Corsham, near Bath, was topped at £16,000 by this large iron two-train turret clock movement by Thomas Cooke (1807-68) of York. The estimate was £1000-2000.

Not all early 18th century oak clocks were restricted to a simple style. There were provincial customers who requested more grandeur and country casemakers who could accommodate such requests.

The French clockmaker Antide Janvier, who constructed his first mechanical globe when he was only 15, is primarily famous for his highly complex astronomical clocks and planetaria.