Clocks · Lantern clock
Lantern clock by Peter Closon, London, c. 1630–1654
- Maker / attribution
- Peter Closon (maker)
- Date
- c. 1630–1654
- Historical period
- Early Modern Horology (1600 – 1750)
- Country of origin
- England
- Place
- London
- Object type
- Lantern clock
- Dimensions
- Height 38 cm
- Stock no.
- SKU 568
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Howard Walwyn (SKU 568)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Peter Closon at London Fecit. A rare First Period London lantern clock (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Howard Walwyn Fine Antique Clocks (dealer), London (stock number SKU 568), this is a lantern clock by Peter Closon, made in London, England, dated c. 1630–1654. The Atlas places it in the Early Modern Horology period (1600 – 1750) of its Clocks collection. Recorded dimensions: Height 38 cm. The record is illustrated with 3 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 rare First Period London lantern clock by this famous early maker. It originally had a balance wheel escapement. In the last quarter of the 17 th century it was converted to a verge escapement with a silk suspension in the French style. This fascinating clock has almost certainly spent most of its life in France where it had the very early verge conversion. Height : 15 in (38 cm) Width : 6 in (15 cm) Depth : 6 in (15 cm) *Peter Closen is recorded in Brian Loomes’ The Early Clockmakers of Great Britain as working between 1630-1654. He subscribed to the Clockmakers Company in 1630 and thereafter took on numerous apprentices including William Speakman . Closen became an Assistant in the Clockmakers Company in 1633 and a Warden between 1637-1638. Known work by Closen includes a quarter-striking three train lantern clock. There are several other fine examples illustrated in George White’s ‘ English Lantern Clocks’ . HW6548
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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