Chats on Old Clocks by Arthur Hayden

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CHATS ON OLD FURNITURE. CHATS ON OLD PRINTS. CHATS ON OLD LACE AND NEEDLEWORK. By E. L. LOWES. CHATS ON ORIENTAL CHINA. CHATS ON OLD MINIATURES. By J. J. FOSTER, F.S.A. By H. J. L. J. MASSÉ, M.A. By FRED. J. MELVILLE. CHATS ON OLD JEWELLERY AND TRINKETS By MACIVER PERCIVAL. CHATS ON OLD COINS. By FRED. W. BURGESS. CHATS ON OLD COPPER AND BRASS. By FRED. W. BURGESS. By FRED. W. BURGESS. CHATS ON OLD SILVER. CHATS ON OLD CLOCKS AND WATCHES. LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN, LTD., NEW YORK: F. A. STOKES COMPANY. A.H. This may be admitted. By the courtesy of the Corporation of Nottingham I am reproducing a clock in their collection, and similarly by the courtesy of the Bristol Corporation I am including an example in their possession. Maker, Jas. Strowbridge (Dawlish) 201 Biddell (London), 1800. Probably from old French or from Low Latin, _cloca_, _clocca_, a bell. Dutch, _klok_. German, _glocke_, a bell. "The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath," may be applied to the clock dial. So frequently, in fact, that very few of the old balance movements remain. Prince Rupert's Drops, so familiar now, were a scientific wonder. Hooke. We do not expect him to, nor did he, lay the marquetry, or become a lacquer varnisher in the cases. That is something, and it is a very great thing too. To one his mezzotints, to another his Chelsea china, to another his old silver plate. Then there is the movement, that is, the mechanism which makes the clock a clock. They seize these as their own, and make them in their presentation more repellent. Date, about 1660. Maker, Daniel Quare (London).] Date, about 1670.] Date, about 1700. It is a thirty-hour clock, with striking but no alarum movement. Sometimes as much as ten pounds is asked for them, and sometimes it is found that an old maker's name has been added to the dial. That is foolishness, and outside the realm of collecting. Maker, Thomas Tompion (1671-1713). It was Balzac who chalked up in his garret, "Here is a Velasquez," "Here is an Andrea del Sarto." It is the same artistic impulse which accepts the translation in lieu of the original. With fine marquetry decoration. Maker, Jas. Height, 8 ft. 2 in. Width, 1 ft. 7-1/2 in. Depth, 10 in. Maker, J. Windmills (London). Date, about 1705. Decorated in marquetry.] Maker, Henry Harper (Cornhill). Height, 8 ft. 6 in. Width, 1 ft. 7-1/2 in. Depth, 10 in. Not only in colour, for he had to compete with the richly coloured lacquered cases, but in form. Maker, Martin (London). Decorated in marquetry in the "all-over" style. Holbein and Hollar and Vandyck, Lely and Kneller worked in this country. The French Protestant refugees fleeing from the insane fury of Roman Catholic bigots naturally fled to Protestant countries--to England, to Holland, and to Germany. On original stand. Decorated in marquetry. It is a clock-case panel. Perhaps they did, and other persons, wiser in their generation, removed it. Holland seems to be the answer, in spite of all experts to the contrary. It is the wall-paper artist at work in a smaller area. Similarly, in marquetry, when we find the almost invisible lines denoting several hands, or the piecing together of the same design cunningly to deceive the persons at the period, we at a later stage read this as the note determining the end, and the end soon came. In the niches stood cabinets, the masterpieces of Japanese art." ="The Chinese Taste. The French artist-craftsmen readily saw that the great influx of Chinese and Japanese furniture would stifle their national artistic impulses. At first, without doubt, these came from the East through Holland. It is poor and thin, and has not stood the ravages of time and a damp climate. Maker, Kenneth Maclennan (London). Date, 1760-80. Height, 8 ft. Width, 1 ft. 8 in. Depth, 10 in. The table was covered with an Eastern rug, called a "table carpet." What is now, was two hundred and fifty years ago. So it is. It is the French grafted on to the Dutch and acclimatized here. They did a lot of damage. Similarly, in the seventeenth century, when the boudoir escaped from needlework into lacquer, much otherwise harmless furniture must have been spoilt. Folly is not the monopoly of any age. It is eternal. Decorated in black and gold lacquer. Maker, John Grant (Fleet Street). As the title to a period of time, the Georgian period is as good as any other. Maker, Henderson (London). Date, about 1770. Height, 9 ft. Width, 1 ft. 8-1/2 in. Depth, 11 in.] There is, too, a certain lovableness about the "grandfather" clock. It is the heritage of the poor. Maker, Thomas Wagstaff (Gracechurch Street, London). Date, about 1780. Height, 8 ft. 2 in. Width, 1 ft. 7-1/2 in. Depth, 10 in. Movement by Stephen Rimbault, case by Robert Adam. Date, about 1775. The terminals are mahogany. The base is decorated with a panel, in mahogany of fine figure. The height is less, being only 8 feet 2 inches. It is Italian in conception, and quite in keeping with other work of Zoffany. Maker, no signature, but suggestive of the work of Rimbault. The finials are brass. The main dial has two hands, which indicate Greenwich mean time and Bristol time. Movement by Robert Molyneux & Sons, London. Three dials, one showing hours and one seconds, the great dial showing Greenwich time and Bristol time. ENLARGEMENT OF DIAL. Our "grandfather" was a Dutchman, as far as clock-cases go. 133, 117). 145, 117). It was square, in simple forms, with square hoods. Sometimes plain, sometimes with a plinth, sometimes with feet. 133, 137). Similarly, Arabic figures have also been used. "Good morrow, fool," quoth I. Showing maker's name, John Bushman, London. Showing maker's name, Hen. Massy, London, and square dial indicating date of month. 159.] [3] _Encyclopædia Britannica_ (ninth edition), vol. vi. Painted and gilded. 159.] Once the cherub found its way on to clocks, there it remained. Nor is this all. On others a crown is shown on a cushion, with the sceptre and orb beside it. Of William and Mary period.] We accordingly say, for instance, it is twenty minutes to four or ten minutes to four. Maker, Sam Watson (Coventry). Date, 1687. Height, 12 in. Width, 9-1/4 in. Depth, 6-3/4 in. Maker, Joseph Knibb (Oxon). Date, 1690. Height, 12 in. Width, 8 in. Depth, 5 in. Maker, Thomas Loomes, at Ye Mermaid in Lothbury. Date, 1700. Height, 1 ft. 3-1/2 in. Width, 11-1/2 in. Depth, 7-1/4 in. Maker, Thomas Johnson, Gray's Inn Passage. Date, about 1730. Height, 1 ft. 2 in. Width, 7 in. Depth, 5 in.] Maker, John Page (Ipswich). Date, 1740. Height, 24 in, Width, 12-1/4 in. Depth, 5-1/4 in. Maker, Godfrey Poy (London). Date, 1745. Height, 26 in. Width, 11 in. Depth, 6-3/4. Maker, Johnson (London). Height, 1 ft. 5 in. Width, 9-1/4 in. Depth, 5-1/4 in. Maker, Thomas Hill (Fleet Street, London). Height, 1 ft. 9 in. Width, 1 ft. Depth, 7 in.] Makers, Savin & Dyer (Boston). With decoration in Chinese style, blue and white, and painted clock dial with no works. Early nineteenth century. The French craftsman, as he always did, realized the possibilities of his subject. By the courtesy of the authorities of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, an American clock is illustrated (p. 193), the makers being Savin and Dyer, of Boston. It is of fine proportions, and the lyre ornament is kept in due reticence. Maker, Alexander Cumming (London). Date, 1770. Height, 1 ft. 2 in. Width, 8-1/4 in. Depth, 5-1/4 in. Date, about 1800. Height, 1 ft. 3-3/4 in. Width, 10-1/2 in. Depth, 6-1/4 in. DATE, ABOUT 1805. Maker, Barraud (London). Height, 17 in. Width, 12 in. Depth, 6 in. Maker, Strowbridge (Dawlish). Height, 16 in. Width, 10 in. Depth, 6-1/2 in.] Of the same date is a provincial clock by Strowbridge, of Dawlish. Maker, Biddell (London). Date, 1800. Enamel dial. Height, 1 ft. 8 in. Width, 10 in. Depth, 5-1/2 in. No name of maker. Date, 1810-15. Height, 1 ft. 7-3/4 in. Width, 1 ft. Depth, 5-1/2 in.] Charles II had a clock made by him. Of course, it is a statement that cannot be proved, nor can it be disproved. Jas. Atkinson (Gateshead), 1770-77. Beilly and Hawthorn, 1780. William Berry (Gateshead), 1810. Thomas Bell, 1785. S. Boverick, 1765. William Coventry, 1778. William Featherstone, 1790-95. William Fenton, 1778. William Foggin, 1833 (clock-dial maker). Gibson, 1750. John Greaves, 1780-95. John Hawthorn, 1780. W. Heron, 1790. Geo. Hidspeth, 1800. J. Hutchinson, 1811. Matt. Kirkup, 1811. Jos. Geo. Miller (Gateshead), 1770. Sam Ogden, 1760-70. Ord (Hexham), 1797. Jno. Peacock, 1800. John Rawson, 1790. Wm. Rawson, 1790. Henry Sanders (Gateshead), 1800. Thomas Smoult, 1790. { Hugh Stockell, 1790. { Hugh Stockell, 1800. J. H. Wakefield (Gateshead), 1800. John Wakefield (Lamesley), 1827. Ward, 1811. John Wilson, 1782-90. Richard Young, 1811. They are approximate dates. By the courtesy of S. H. Hamer, Esq., of Halifax, an illustration of one of these tokens is given. Maker, Gilbert Chippindale (Halifax). ENLARGEMENT OF HOOD. Maker, John Weatherilt (Liverpool). Date, 1780-85. This family gave the name to Tarleton Street, Liverpool. Date, about 1745. Maker, Henry Higginbotham (Macclesfield). Weatherilt. 249.) Brown, Liverpool, is found on a mahogany long-case clock and also on a small long-case clock. Maker, Heywood (Northwich, Cheshire). Oak case veneered in mahogany. Maker, Thomas Wall (Birmingham). Date, about 1795. Stacey, Worksop. in centre. Decorated in marquetry. Maker, Joseph Knibb (Oxon). Terminals of carved mahogany. Maker, Cockey (Warminster). [5] Balle, John (Exeter). Bickle, R. H. (Bishop's Nympton). Bradford (Tiverton). Bradford (Drayford). Braund, John (Hatherleigh). Bucknell, Jas. (Crediton). Chamberlain, Hen. (Tiverton). Chasty, Robert (Hatherleigh). Chasty, William (Teignmouth). Day, Christopher (South Molton). Drake, R. (Beaminster). Eastcott, Richard (Exon). Ezekiel (Exon), c. 1794. Foster, James (Ashburton). Fox, John (Alverton). Gard, Henry (Exeter). Gard, William (Exeter). Gaydon, J. (Barnstaple). Gould, G. (South Molton). Harding, Charles (Sidmouth). Harner (Membury). Howard, Wm., 1760. Hutchins, William (Cullompton). Huxtable, E. (South Molton). Jacobs, A. (Torquay). Jonas, Saml. (Exon), 1783. Keffutt, Walter (Exon). Lord, John (Farringdon). Lovelace, Jacob (Exeter), died 1766. Mallett, Peter, 1705. Mallett, John (Barnstaple), 1840. March, R. (Honiton). Otercey, John (Torrington). Passmore, R. (Barnstaple). Pile, Fra. (Honiton). Pollard (Crediton), 1760. Pollard, Thomas (Exeter). Price (Wiveliscombe). Rew, Joseph (Wiveliscombe). Sanderson, Geo. (Exeter). Scoble, John S. (Colyton). Simons, A. (Bideford). Skinner (Exon). Snell, E. (Barnstaple). Stocker (Honiton). Strowbridge (Dawlish). Stumbel (Totnes). Thorne, Sim (Tiverton), 1740. Thorne, Michl. (South Molton). Upjohn, Richard (Exon). (Long-case clock, _c._ 1730.) Upjohn, Wm. (Exeter), 1741. Upjohn, Peter (Bideford). (Watch, 1780.) Weller, Geo. (Exon). Wood, I. (Exon). Waldron, John (Tiverton). [5] 1914-15, pp. 204, 205; and July 1917. By Shenkyn Shon (Blackcock Inn, Pontnedd Fechan). (_At National Museum of Wales, Cardiff._)] [Illustration: IRON DIAL OF THIRTY-HOUR CLOCK. Maker, Beeching (Ashburnham). Blue painted decoration, under glass, in spandrels above dial. Maker, Marston (Salop). "When it came back his name, 'H. Strowbridge, Dawlish,' was engraved upon the dial." This oval form is rare. He introduced this clock into his novel, _Rhys Lewis_. The hood of the clock is of original decoration. Candles and torches, except one, were extinguished. Ramsay_. Date, about 1670. Jos. John Kerr (Glasgow), 1783. Geo. Geo. John Smith (Pittenweem, Fife). Self-taught. Maker of musical clocks, etc. Wm. Sutor (Edinburgh), 1712-15. William Veitch (Haddington), 1758. James Young (Edinburgh), 1756. There seems, too, to have been a strong proclivity towards the musical clock. ENLARGEMENT OF DIAL. Showing maker's name, "Jos. Maker, George Graydon (Dublin). Date, about 1796. With marquetry design showing volunteer in uniform, with G.R. It is somewhat puzzling, and leads to conjecture as to its history. William Ross (Cork), 1764-1817. Date, 1770-95. Lunette marked "Minuet, March, Jigg, Air, Minuet, Gavot." Two subsidiary dials marked "Strike," "Not Strike," and "Chime," "Not Chime." (_At National Museum, Dublin._)] [Illustration: REGULATOR CLOCK. MAHOGANY CASE. Maker, Sharp (Dublin). Early nineteenth century, showing French influence. Height, 3 ft. 5-1/2 in. Width, 10-3/4 in. Base, 11-3/4 in. It is a miniature long-case clock, being only 3 feet 5-1/2 inches high. This new Act admitted three--22, 20, and 18 carats. They are at variance with modernity. II. James I Watch. Maker, Yate (London). III. IV. Charles II Watch. V. William III Watch. Maker, Thomas Tompion. II. III. IV. 283, 287). VI. VII. Maker, Duhamel. Maker, Haydon. IX. Watch. Maker, Daniels of Leighton. X. _No. 2_ is a James I oval watch, and the maker is Yate, of London. _No. 3_ is a Cromwellian silver watch, plum-shaped. _No. _No. It is of the William and Mary period. _No. 6_, of which the back is shown, is a watch by Peter Garon. _No. _No. Haut." _No. 9_ shows an illustration of the back, where the movement is visible. _No. 10_ is by Kemp, London, and is decorated in Battersea enamel and shagreen. _Cloth_, 6s. net.