Clockmaker
Ahasuerus Fromanteel
Also recorded as: Fromanteel, Ahasuerus · Fromanteel
Introduced the pendulum clock to England in 1658, only a year after Huygens's invention.
Ahasuerus Fromanteel, from a family of Flemish origin, sent his son John to work with Salomon Coster in The Hague in 1657. In 1658 he advertised pendulum clocks for sale in London — the first in England. Fromanteel clocks, with their architectural ebony cases, are foundational examples of the English longcase and bracket clock.
- Country
- England (of Dutch descent)
- City / centre
- London
- Life / active
- 1607–1693
- Status
- Historical individual
- Key people
- Ahasuerus Fromanteel; John Fromanteel
Innovations & specialities
- First pendulum clocks in England (1658)
- Early longcase clocks
Works by Ahasuerus Fromanteel in the catalogue
Open in the catalogue →
Clocks · ca. 1660
Longcase clock, ca. 1660, English, made by Ahasuerus Fromanteel
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Clocks · ca. 1660–65
Wall clock by Ahasuerus I Fromanteel, United Kingdom, ca. 1660–65
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Clocks · 1660-1665
Brass anchor escape wheel from long-case clock made by Ahasuerus Fromanteel, London, 1660-1665..
Science Museum Group, London
Clocks · 1660–1665
Long-case clock made by Ahasuerus Fromanteel, London, 1660-1665. In ebony case, with pendulum and box of parts.
Science Museum Group, London
Clocks · ca. 1685
Bracket clock, ca. 1685, English, inscribed ‘Johannes Fromanteel Londini fecit’. Case veneered with kingwood
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Clocks · ca. 1690–94
Longcase clock by Movement by Ahasuerus II Fromanteel, United Kingdom, ca. 1690–94
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Movements & Components · 1685
Watch movement by Fromanteel, Ahasuerus, Netherlands, 1685
Science Museum Group, London
Linked through the Atlas maker authority list, which reconciles the spellings used by different institutions. Attributions are as stated by each holding institution or auction house.
