Bracket clock by Joseph Knibb, London, c. 1685

Dealer description — Howard Walwyn

A good Charles II period hour striking and repeating Phase III spring table clock in a domed case veneered with ebony surmounted by a single brass carrying handle and four gilt brass repoussé mounts. The 6 ¼-inch square brass dial with finely matted centre has a silvered chapter ring, winged cherub corner spandrels and a finely matted centre. The blued steel pointers are finely pierced and faceted and the dial plate is signed by the maker below VI. Above XII there is an inset S trike/Silent lever. The 8-day duration movement is fully latched with five finely turned baluster pillars. It has a verge escapement and the hours are sounded on a bell via an inside pivoted rack. The quarters are sounded on a further bell via a brass push/pull repeat bar. The backplate is also signed in an arc Joseph Knibb Londini Fecit and is exquisitely engraved with cut stalk tulips and scrolling leaves. Date : circa 1685 Height : 11 ¾ in (30 cm) excluding handle Width : 9 ⅜ in (23.75 cm) Depth : 6 ¼ in (16 cm) *Joseph Knibb Phase III bracket clocks are amongst the most sought after of any late 17 th century table clocks. Their elegant low dome tops, their small proportions and their shallowness front to back make the cases particularly appealing. Their small 6 inch square dials are also generally without any fussy decoration or heavy ringed winding holes. The thin plates and the delicate refined wheelwork of Knibb movements along with the exquisite tulip engraving on their backplates are further reasons why they are instantly recognizable and generally win the most accolades from collectors and new buyers alike. A very similar clock is illustrated on plate 81 and page 181 of R.A. Lee’s book: The Knibb Family Clockmakers . References: R.A. Lee, The Knibb Family Clockmakers , pl. 80 and p. 181 Dawson, Drover & Parkes, Early English Clocks , pp. 438, pl.636 Sunny Dzik, Engraving on English Table Clocks – Art on a Canvas of Brass 1660- 1800 , pp.132-133 Sunny Dzik, Beneath the Dial – Pull Repeat Striking 1675 – 1725 , pp 187-189 HW6401