TALL- LONG CASE / GRANDFATHER CLOCK: CASE STYLES: PRE 1860: A study.

[harold bain]

Originally Posted by laprade

I have been kindly allowed to show this case, which was emailed to me for advice. The case has a movement with a Welsh merchant's name, from the Mid Wales town of LLANIDLOES . Google it: it's a lovely place. It is in what the English call “Welsh Wales”, all mountains and sheep!

I would put the date of the case at around 1820-30. It has a short door, which is the main pointer for that date. However the “quartered columns” on the trunk lean towards 1800. Quartered columns are Chippendale – Sheraton in origin and very popular in the second half of the 18th c. The inlay and simple marquetry is also from a Sheraton -Hepplewhite influence, again of the later 18th c. The simple lines to the swan necks are a feature of the later clocks, which accompanied the “short doors”. Baluster turned hood pillars were also part of the later clock styles, and it is interesting to see them, as opposed to having fluted pillars with metal caps and bases.

There are very strong similarities with the "Lancashire-Cheshire" style, in this case.

The clock's feet are also of interest. They are of a “bracket style”, but made in the manner of the “French feet” favoured by the Hepplewhite style. There is even a proud-mould running long the front of the base, as would be found with normal brackets. French feet, you will remember, are an extension of the case, and not planted outside the base line.

Laprade, you start off saying you date this case to 1820-30, then point out features from the second half of the 1700's. Perhaps if you named the maker listed on the dial, we may be able to narrow down the possibilities with less confusion.

[swankyman]

Hi Steven, I will try to get a photo of the bottom later on. Mark

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1042582/2041468

[Jeremy Woodoff]

Michael,

The references are slim. I got the clock in the mid-1970s. My only sources at the time were Britten and Baillie. Britten listed P. Klock, ca. 1700, enamelled watch. Baillie listed Pieter Klok, Amsterdam, 2nd half of the 18th century, many fine l.c. and bracket clocks. I subsequently came to believe that Baillie was referring to P. Klock Jr., and I have seen a clock by him from 1750 or so in the elaborate Dutch style with bombe base and multiple calendar functions. Back in the '70s I wrote to the Chamber of Commerce in Amsterdam and they sent back some basic biographical information on Pieter Klock (Sr.). I also have the book Dutch Antique Domestic Clocks by Sellink, which has some information on Amsterdam long case clocks, including a photograph of a clock by Steven Huygens in a similar case, only in plain walnut and with an elaborate carved crest. I had a reference in Dutch that I had translated once, and it had a little more information about Klock, his working address, and honors (he was listed in and later compiled the "book of good men," meaning good clockmakers, a predecessor to Angie's List). The site for the Museum of the Dutch Clock also has some information and pictures, including I think a movement and dial by P. Klock.

That's about it, as far as I can remember.

I have saved the feet, just in case.

[Ansomnia]

Jeremy, I also have the Sellink book. It's a very nice reference on Dutch clocks but I think it is completely overwhelmed by the expansive range and numbers of antique Dutch clocks. There is very little on Dutch longcase clocks (staande klokken). But the book does a decent job of covering Dutch wall clocks.

My best reference on Dutch longcase clocks is a DUTCH LANGUAGE ONLY "De Nederlandse Staande Klok" by J(aap) Zeeman. This is the standard reference I believe. Unfortunately, like the Zellink book, this book by Zeeman also exhibits the utter absence of an index. I guess the authors did not use any sort of computerized or traditional book publishing system. So it's impossible to search except by going through the entire book of 497 pages. Crazy.

All the same, the book does organize material in a fairly logical manner and all the clocks by Pieter Klock are discussed together (minus cross references I imagine) under the first chapter on Amsterdam clocks. There are many other longcases from the same location and period by the Fromanteel family, Huygens and Hasius...etc.

What I can make out from these clocks is that many of the older clocks have bun feet similar to the ones in your clock. The ones that don't seem to have feet that are obviously replacements from late 18C and early 19C or skirted bottoms.

So I think your clock probably originally had bun feet very similar to the ones found with your clock. As for an intricately carved crest, they do appear on many similar clocks in the book and a P. Klock walnut specimen from 1710-1715 has such a cresting. It has a shape and proportions very similar to those of your clock.


Michael

P.S. For colour photos, there are 3 P. Klock longcases featured in the Vehmeyer volumes; similar cases but not seaweed marquetry or crested. These books should be in the NAWCC collection.

[laprade]

Harold, no confusion if you read carefully.

The "short doors" were of the 19th c, and got shorter as time progressed. The "quartered columns" were a feature of mid to late 18th c. Without the columns the clock would be later than 1830. Without the "short door" the clock could be pre 1800.

So the clock is 19th c, but quite early. The problem is placing the introduction of the "short doors".

As to the maker, it hasn't been clarified yet; looks like Davies.

I post two examples of late short doors from North Wales. The Angelsey clock has the mix of quartered columns and hood turnings and is supposed to be 1840 ( I don't agree; I think it is a marriage) The Bangor clock is the right age 1840 c.

[Jeremy Woodoff]

Michael, thanks for that information. I'll look into borrowing those books from the library.

[laprade]

Jeremy, while you are still on the Dutch subject, I would like to throw a thought or two into the ring.

Your clock which came from Holland, and you referred to as "William and Mary", I would suggest that that style be actually called "Dutch style", as would the Tompion. The Dutch influence on English clock-making cannot be mistaken. Where the "skill" came from before Holland, is another story, as I hinted before. The first English styles, if they can be called that, would have been: Tea caddy: Pagoda: and the broken arch. The first two are straight from China, and the broken arch from the Neo-Classical stable. The later “swan neck” style is also from the Neo-Classical.

What readers need to understand, is that England was a haven for people of genius in Europe, where religious problems caused great upheavals and emigration. The London weaving industry was based entirely on Huguenot emigrants from France, who settled in the Spittalfields area of the city. Despite some blimps: Cromwell; James II vs William III, English life was stable and continuous, allowing for growth of certain industries.

Dutch clock-makers were invited to come to London, and the the pendulum came from there as well.

The pictures show some more Welsh clocks. Wrexham, N Wales, Caernarvon N Wales, and from South Wales a Cardiff clock and a “Valleys” clock (Clatworthy

http://www.mb.nawcc.org/showthread.p...ght=clatworthy

Both the South Wales clocks have the "french feet" with the bead, as does the LLANIDLOES clock.