Bracket clock by J. Windmills, London, c. 1695

Dealer description — Howard Walwyn

A rare William III period silver mounted walnut bracket clock by this famous maker. The 8-day verge movement strikes the hours on a bell and has pull quarter repeat work on four bells. The attractive 7-inch brass dial has four gilt-brass winged cherub’s head corner spandrels, a finely matted centre with an inset ‘faux’ pendulum aperture showing the maker’s name. There is a Strike/Silent lever above 12 o’clock. The backplate is beautifully engraved with the maker’s signature J. Windmills London in a cartouche set below scrolling foliage. The quality of the engraving of both the dial and backplate is excellent. The substantial high quality movement fills the whole case and has very ornate external stop work. The classic dome-topped case has highly figured walnut veneers and cross grain mouldings with original applied repoussé silver mounts to the front door stiles and a solid silver s-scroll carrying handle. It stands on four turned wooden bun feet, which appear to be original. Height : 14 ½ in (37 cm) Width: 10 ½ in (26.5 cm) Depth: 7 in (18 cm) *Joseph Windmills was made a Free Brother in the Clockmakers’ Company in September 1671. He was a prolific maker with large workshops and numerous apprentices after 1687 in Tower Street. He was Warden of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1699 and became Master in 1702. By 1714 he had gone into partnership with his son Thomas and today there are clocks by Joseph and Thomas in many important collections. Early walnut bracket clocks of this intrinsic quality and aesthetic appeal by famous makers are increasingly rare and hard to find. It is interesting to note that there is not a single example of another walnut bracket clock in the book devoted to the work of Joseph and Thomas Windmills. We had the almost identical movement and case about 20 years ago with brass rather than silver mounts and handle. Further reading : J.A. Neale, Joseph and Thomas Windmills , The Antiquarian Horological Society 1999 Brian Loomes, The Early Clockmakers of Great Britain , N.A.G. Press 1981, p.585 HW6609