Longcase clock by John Ellicott, London, c. 1750

Dealer description — Howard Walwyn

An exceptional George III period dark green lacquer chinoiserie brass dial quarter-chiming longcase clock by this famous London clockmaker. The dark green and gilt chinoiserie case has a stepped caddy-top with whale’s tails surmounted by a central brass flambeau finial and one to each side. There is a glazed hood door and a slender trunk, with the surfaces intricately japanned throughout with raised gilt figural and landscape scenes, including village vignettes and animals. The raised panelled base has a stepped double plinth and is also profusely decorated with gilt chinoiserie motifs. The 12-inch break-arch brass dial has ornate gilt foliate spandrels with chalices in each corner, and a brass chapter ring with fine matting on the dial centre. It has Roman hour numerals, Arabic five-minute markers, an outer minute track and fleur-de-lys half-hour indicators. The maker’s signature John Ellicott, London , is signed below the centre on a polished brass cartouche. There is a subsidiary seconds dial and an inset calendar aperture above VI. The arch at the top is fitted with a strike/silent dial. The steel hands are finely pierced and blued. The numbered three-train movement has six knopped pillars and an original anchor escapement, regulated by a long pendulum with a large lenticular brass bob. The clock chimes the quarters on a nest of four bells via six hammers, and strikes the hours on a larger bell. The rear plate of the movement is stamped No. 453 along its bottom edge. Date: circa 1750 Height : 110 ¼ in (280 cm) to top of finial * John Ellicott was born in 1706 and established his business in Swithin’s Alley, Royal Exchange in 1728. He was the inventor of a gridiron compensation pendulum and he developed the use of the cylinder escapement in watches. Like his peer George Graham , he became a member of the Royal Society, for which he wrote several papers. He was appointed Clockmaker to the King and he designed the London Hospital clock. He died suddenly in 1772 and was succeeded by his son. His work can be found in Museums and Royal Collections throughout the world. References: Geoffrey Buggins, Antiquarian Horology IV (December 1964) p.275 Cescinsky, Webster, English Domestic Clocks , p.194-196 Cedric Jagger, Royal Clocks, The British Monarchy & its Timekeepers pp.99-101 HW6640