Longcase clock by Benjamin Marshall, London, c. 1690–1695

Dealer description — Howard Walwyn

An exceptional William III period eight day longcase clock in a small English black and gilt chinoiserie lacquer pine case of great rarity. Standing on bun feet, there is a turned wooden lenticle to the trunk door and a pull forward hood flanked by barley twist columns with gilt capitals and bases. It is surmounted by a carved gilt wooden cresting with a cherub in the centre. The early English chinoiserie decoration depicts oriental figures in multi-coloured dress in a rural setting with flowers, birds, horses, trees, foliage and oriental buildings. The 10 inch square dial which is signed Benjamin Marshall London on the dial plate below VI is mounted with winged cherub and foliate corner spandrels and a silvered chapter ring. The dial centre is finely matted and there is a seconds ring and aperture to view the day of the month. The elegant blued steel hands are finely pierced and facetted. The high quality early movement has five turned and finned pillars and hour strike via an inside locking plate. The clock is complete with a pair of period patinated brass cased weights and a detachable steel pendulum rod with a brass lenticular bob and rating nut. Overall Height : 82 ¼ in ( 209 cm) Maximum Hood Cornice Width : 18 in (46 cm) Depth : 10 in (26 cm) * Benjamin Marshall is listed on page 335 of Brian Loomes’ Clockmakers of Britain : 1286 -1700 . He was born circa 1659 and apprenticed to Abraham Prime until 1680. He did not sign the 1697 oath of allegiance for any city company. He was last heard of in 1720 when he paid off his quarterly arrears. This clock is a wonderful example of early English lacquer work on a late 17 th century longcase. HW5691