Longcase clock by Manley, Norwich

Dealer description — Howard Walwyn

A stunning rare George I period miniature faux-tortoiseshell longcase clock of 8-day duration and with hour strike. The 7 inch square brass dial has 4 winged cherub corner spandrels, a wheatear border and a finely matted centre. It has a raised silvered brass chapter ring with the maker’s signature Manley in Norwich . There is a subsidiary seconds dial below XII and an inset date aperture above VI. The blued steel hands are finely pierced and facetted. The elegant miniature faux-tortoiseshell case has an original caddy top surmounted by three gilt wooden ball finials and a pierced sound fret above and below the cornice moulding. The raised gilt chinoiserie figurative decoration is of exceptional quality and is shown to great effect against the faux-tortoiseshell background. The full length trunk door has a brass moulded lenticle to show off the seconds beating pendulum. The base terminates with a plinth which is supported on four turned gilt wooden bun feet. The week duration movement has two plates which are united by four knopped and finned brass pillars. Each train has four wheels, the going with anchor escapement and the strike train with inside countwheel strike sounded on a single bell. Date : circa 1715 Height : 75 ½ in (192 cm) including finial Height : 69 ½ in (176.5 cm) excluding finial Width : 12 ⅛ (31 cm) Depth : 7 ⅞ in (19.75 cm) * Cornelius Manley is recorded as working in Norwich between 1702 and his death in 1722 The photographs do not do justice to this wonderful little clock and its fine slender proportions. The clock is illustrated in figure 6/4 on page 120 of Tom Robinson’s Longcase Clock book. References : B. Loomes, Early Clockmakers of Great Britain:1286-1700 , p.331 B.Loomes, Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World: Complete 21st Cent A stunning rare George I period miniature faux-tortoiseshell longcase clock of 8-day duration and with hour strike. The 7 inch square brass dial has 4 winged cherub corner spandrels, a wheatear border and a finely matted centre. It has a raised silvered brass chapter ring with the maker’s signature Manley in Norwich . There is a subsidiary seconds dial below XII and an inset date aperture above VI. The blued steel hands are finely pierced and facetted. The elegant miniature faux-tortoiseshell case has an original caddy top surmounted by three gilt wooden ball finials and a pierced sound fret above and below the cornice moulding. The raised gilt chinoiserie figurative decoration is of exceptional quality and is shown to great effect against the faux-tortoiseshell background. The full length trunk door has a brass moulded lenticle to show off the seconds beating pendulum. The base terminates with a plinth which is supported on four turned gilt wooden bun feet. The week duration movement has two plates which are united by four knopped and finned brass pillars. Each train has four wheels, the going with anchor escapement and the strike train with inside countwheel strike sounded on a single bell. Date : circa 1715 Height : 75 ½ in (192 cm) including finial Height : 69 ½ in (176.5 cm) excluding finial Width : 12 ⅛ (31 cm) Depth : 7 ⅞ in (19.75 cm) * Cornelius Manley is recorded as working in Norwich between 1702 and his death in 1722 The photographs do not do justice to this wonderful little clock and its fine slender proportions. The clock is illustrated in figure 6/4 on page 120 of Tom Robinson’s Longcase Clock book. References : B. Loomes, Early Clockmakers of Great Britain:1286-1700 , p.331 B.Loomes, Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World: Complete 21st Century Edition, p.504 Tom Robinson, The Longcase Clock , p. 12o fig. 6/4, p. 124 Clifford & Yvonne Bird, Norfolk & Norwich -Clocks & Clockmakers, p.130 HW5970