Clocks · Lantern clock
Lantern clock by John Knibb, Oxford, c. 1695–1700
- Maker / attribution
- John Knibb (maker)
- Date
- c. 1695–1700
- Historical period
- Early Modern Horology (1600 – 1750)
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- Place
- Oxford
- Object type
- Lantern clock
- Materials / technique
- brass
- Dimensions
- Height 32 cm
- Stock no.
- SKU 571
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Howard Walwyn (SKU 571)
- Catalogue title (original)
- JOHN KNIBB OXON. A good William III period brass lantern clock by this famous clockmaker. (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Howard Walwyn Fine Antique Clocks (dealer), London (stock number SKU 571), this is a lantern clock by John Knibb, made in Oxford, United Kingdom, dated c. 1695–1700. The Atlas places it in the Early Modern Horology period (1600 – 1750) of its Clocks collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: brass. Recorded dimensions: Height 32 cm. The record is illustrated with 4 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Howard Walwyn
A good William III period brass lantern clock by this famous clockmaker. The maker’s signature is engraved in the centre of the dial plate above scrolling flowers and foliage. The silvered centre of the alarm setting disc is engraved with a rosette and has an outer band of Arabic hour numerals. The well-patinated baluster pillared brass case has foliate frets with intertwining dolphins surmounted by a vase finial and a bell strap with pierced ‘arms’ or ‘leaves’ . The restored short duration movement has an internal swinging knife-edge verge escapement, alarm mounted on the iron backplate and hour strike on a count wheel. Height: 12 ½ in (32cm) excluding finial 14 ½ in (37 cm) including finial Width : 6 ½ in (16.5 cm) Depth : 7 ½ in (19 cm) * John Knibb was the illustrious brother of Joseph Knibb who, unlike his older sibling, remained in Oxford his entire working life. He even rose to become Mayor of the City on two occasions. It is clear from the majority of their output that they continued to use the same outworkers and designs for both their clock movements and cases even after Joseph had moved to London in 1670. John Knibb may have even been making clocks for Joseph in London. He had at least 10 apprentices who trained in his workshop prior to their becoming independent clockmakers working in their own right. HW6504
Historical context
Early Modern Horology (1600 – 1750)
Huygens' pendulum and balance spring transform accuracy; English makers develop the anchor and deadbeat escapements.
Huygens's pendulum (1656–57) improved clock accuracy from about a quarter of an hour to under a minute a day. The anchor escapement (c. 1670) and the long seconds pendulum created the longcase clock; London makers such as Fromanteel, Knibb, Tompion and Quare led European clockmaking, and French makers created the Boulle pendule.
Read the period in the timelineMore clocks from this periodEarlier: Renaissance Horology
Atlas type guide
Lantern, chamber and Gothic clocks
Domestic weight-driven clocks were made in southern Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Flanders from the fifteenth century. These 'Gothic' or chamber clocks have an open iron frame with corner posts, a verge escapement controlled by a foliot or balance wheel, and often an alarm or hour striking on a bell mounted above.
In England the lantern clock appeared around 1600: a brass posted-frame clock with a bell on top under decorative frets, hung on a hook or set on a wall bracket. After about 1658 many were converted to pendulum control, so originality of the escapement is a key question for any surviving example.
What to look for
- Iron (continental) or brass (English) posted frames with turned corner pillars and finials.
- A single hour hand — minute hands are rare before the pendulum era.
- Evidence of conversion: plugged holes, replaced escapement wheels or later pendulums.
- Fret designs and engraving on the dial centre, which help date English lantern clocks.
Dating clues
- Continental Gothic chamber clocks: c. 1450–1650.
- English lantern clocks: c. 1600–1720, with provincial examples later.
- Short 'bob' pendulum conversions after 1658; long pendulums with anchor escapement after c. 1670.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:FoliotAnchor (recoil) escapement
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