Longcase clock by Isaac Nickals, Wells, c. 1740

Dealer description — Howard Walwyn

An important George II period cream lacquer longcase clock with three train brass dial quarter chiming movement and moonphase. The 12 inch arch dial has an applied silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring and a subsidiary seconds dial below XII. The dial centre is finely matted and has date apertures for lunar and day calendars. In the dial corners there are four subsidiary dials for repeat/not repeat and strike/no strike quarters at the top. In the bottom corners the day of the week and the month of the year are indicated. The maker’s signature is signed in large script on a horizontal plate at the bottom. Under the moon is the inscription ‘Tempus Rerum Imperator’ (Time is ruler of all things). In the arch is a moon phase dial with a tidal dial on a raised semi-circle above it. The oak case is decorated with exceptional lacquer work on green, red and gilt panels set within a cream background. The bridge top trunk door has a central roundel with a complex foliate shaped panel top and bottom. Depicted are adult figures and children at a banquet, horses and their riders, running hounds and other human figures outside an oriental pavilion beside a lake. The contrasting colours and panel shapes with the green and gilt ground colour are absolutely stunning. Even the sides of the case are decorated with birds and large sprays of foliage. The elegant break arch hood has free standing red and gilt turned columns with gilt brass capitals and bases. The decorative theme is continued with flowers and foliage depicted in reserves on a white background. The case which retains its original base stands on a sympathetically restored double plinth. The substantial high-quality 8-day three train movement strikes the quarters on 3 bells and the hours on a single bell and there is a centre seconds hand in addition to the hour and minute hands. Height: 113 in (288 cm) * This remarkable clock features on the front cover and on page 138 of ‘Norfolk & Norwich Clocks and Clockmakers’ edited by C & Y Bird. It is also illustrated with a later cresting on page 211 of ‘The Wetherfield Collection of Clocks’ by Eric Bruton and is listed in Britten’s ‘Old Clocks & Watches and their Makers’ as a ‘Splendid long-case chiming clock, with lacquer decoration, phases of the moon and time of high water in arch, about 1740, Wetherfield Collection’. Signed / Inscribed Isaac Nickals Wells