17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick 1

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick 2

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick 3

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick 4

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick 5

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick 6

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick 7

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick 8

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick-1

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick-2

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick-3

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick-4

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick-5

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick-6

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick-7

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick-8

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick

Sold

Price Enquiry

17th century William and Mary Ebony Eight-Day table clock by James Markwick

The elegantly proportioned ebony-veneered basket top case has fine cast brass ornaments to the door and rectangular windows to the sides so that the exquisite movement is almost entirely visible. The case rests on four fire-gilt brass bun feet.

The fine square brass dial with matted centre and ringed winding holes has an applied silvered chapter-ring, a date aperture above the VI, a false pendulum aperture under the XII and gilded winged cherub-head spandrels in the corners. The chapter ring is engraved with a narrow outer minute ring within Arabic five-minute numerals and 7½-minute markers, a central ring of Roman hours I-XII and half-hour markers and an inner ring divided into quarter hours. The elegant blued steel hands are finely pierced. The dial is signed on a silvered plaque behind the false pendulum, Markwick Londini.

The striking eight-day twin fusee brass movement, of which one of the five pillars is latched, has early fusees with open click work and unusual steel securing caps, and verge escapement with a short knife-suspended pendulum. The striking, which is regulated by an internal rack, indicates the hours fully on a bell. The backplate is profusely engraved in period style around a typical signature cartouche with the maker’s name: Markwick Londini. The movement has pull-quarter repeat on six bells differing in pitch.

The maker
James Markwick (c.1662-1716) was apprenticed to Edmund Gilpin in 1656. He married his master’s daughter around 1660. He is recorded to be active as a clockmaker in Croydon between 1661 and 1664. He was free of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1666. After this date, he lived in Coleman Street in London. In 1673 he succeeded to the property of the well-known clockmaker Samuel Betts. He had several apprentices over the years, among them his son James. Several longcases, as well as watches of his, are known, but spring-driven table clocks are rare. His son James followed in his footsteps, who later joined up with Robert Markham to form the renowned business Markham Markwick.

It should be noted that this is a sensational clock by a great maker and in the most wonderful condition throughout.

Condition

Good. Wear consistent with age and use.

Dimensions

Height: 15.5 in. (39.37 cm)
Width: 10.25 in. (26.04 cm)
Depth: 6.5 in. (16.51 cm)

Literature

B. Loomes, The Clockmakers of Great Britain 1286-1700, Ashbourne, 2014, pp.488-89.
B. Loomes, The Early Clockmakers of Great Britain, Tiptree, 1981

PREVIOUSLY SOLD

Extremely Rare George III 18th Century Quarter-Striking Bracket Clock

Extremely Rare George III 18th Century Quarter-Striking Bracket Clock SoldFollow UsExtremely Rare George III 18th Century Quarter-Striking Bracket Clock An extremely rare George III 18th century ebonized quarter-striking bracket clock by...

Rare 19th Century Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Watkins & Hill London

Rare 19th Century Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Watkins & Hill London £2,600 Follow UsRare 19th Century Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Watkins & Hill London A beautifully weathered circular bronze sundial by Watkins & Hill, first...

Early 19th Century English Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Cary of London

Early 19th Century English Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Cary of London £2,450 Follow UsEarly 19th Century English Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Cary of London An early 19th-century horizontal sundial by Cary London. This 12” diameter bronze...

A Fine 18th-century Queen Anne Burr Walnut Eight-Day Longcase Clock

A Fine 18th-century Queen Anne Burr Walnut Eight-Day Longcase Clock Sold Follow UsA Fine 18th-century Queen Anne Burr Walnut Eight-Day Longcase Clock A superb early 18th-century eight-day Queen Anne longcase clock by the famous maker...

Fine Brass Pocket Sundial and Compass by Michael Butterfield Paris, circa 1700

Fine Brass Pocket Sundial and Compass by Michael Butterfield Paris Sold Follow UsFine Brass Pocket Sundial and Compass by Michael Butterfield Paris A fine brass Anglo-French octagonal pocket sundial with compass by Michael Butterfield, circa...

17th Century William and Mary Eight Day Burr Walnut Longcase Clock, John Martin

17th Century William and Mary Eight Day Burr Walnut Longcase Clock, John Martin Sold Follow Us17th Century William and Mary Eight Day Burr Walnut Longcase Clock, John Martin The attractive burr walnut-veneered oak case is of classic design...

« SEE MORE