A 17th Century William and Mary eight-day table clock by Johnathan Lowndes 1695-1

A 17th Century William and Mary eight-day table clock by Johnathan Lowndes, 1695

£21,500

A 17th Century William and Mary eight-day table clock by Johnathan Lowndes, 1695

A very attractive William and Mary eight-day spring-driven table clock, signed on the backplate Jonathan Lowndes, Pall Mall, À Londres, circa 1690–95.

The well-proportioned ebony-veneered oak domed top case has rectangular viewing windows to the sides, allowing the movement to be almost entirely visible. The dome is surmounted by a pierced gilt brass ornament, whilst at the top of the door there is a pierced gilt brass strip functioning as a sound fret. The case rests on four gilt brass bun feet.

The fine square brass dial has a matted centre with ringed winding holes. There is a date aperture above the VI and a strike/silent lever above the XII (N/S), flanked by the maker’s name, Jonathan Lowndes. This is echoed by the engraving at the bottom of the dial: Londres. The dial has an applied silvered chapter ring and winged cherub-head spandrels to the corners. The chapter ring is engraved with a narrow outer minute ring; within are Arabic five-minute numerals, a central ring with Roman hour numerals I–XII and very pronounced half-hour markers, and an inner ring divided into quarter hours. The time is indicated by a fine pair of pierced, period blued steel hands.

The striking eight-day twin-fusee, five-pillar brass movement has a verge escapement with a short knife-suspended pendulum. The striking, regulated by an internal rack, sounds the hours in full on a bell. The backplate is profusely engraved in an unusual period style, centred around an uncommon signature cartouche bearing the maker’s name, Jonathan Lowndes à Londres. The movement also features pull-quarter repeat, sounding the quarters on one bell and the hours on the other.

The maker
Jonathan Lowndes was born around 1656 in Knutsford, Cheshire, and became a free brother of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1680. While much is known about his career, the identity of his master remains unknown. He took several apprentices and was active until at least 1702, possibly as late as 1710.

Note: The fact that the clock is signed à Londres probably indicates that Lowndes, like other makers such as Massey, sought to extend his market to the Continent. This is supported by the layout of the chapter ring, notably the elaborate half-hour markers.