Webberley Antiques

Description

A Very Fine George II Arch Dial Long Case Clock c. 1730 by Robert Berry, Clockmaker’s Company.

An exceptionally rare completely original George II Arch Dial English longcase clock c. 1730.

300 years ago Robert Berry and his wife Sarah and son Francis live at Number Ten Market Place in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Robert is in his workshop making a most wonderful and complex arch dial clock with an eight day mechanism, seconds hand, date aperture and with chimes to mark the hours. Sitting by candlelight and the heat of a furnace, he casts each brass wheel and cog and the entire clock mechanism by hand including the large arch dial face and the beautiful cherub and dragon spandrels. Every piece made, finished and assembled by Robert including bespoke weights and pendulum. He hopes to hear soon from the London merchant who is sourcing him a fine Chinoiserie black japanned case to show off his masterpiece. After casting the spandrels Robert works day after day with tiny files to remove the rough edges and to polish each element, a process known as 'fettling' and Robert is a craftsman known for making clocks in 'very fine fettle'

Robert Berry was one of the best clock makers of his day and was a member of the Clockmaker’s Company. He apprenticed from the age of eleven with William Lambert the renowned London maker. Arch dial clocks were the most advanced and auspicious time pieces one could commission. Of exemplary quality, this clock was made during the Reign of George II, at the very pinnacle of English clock making. The complexity of the mechanism and quality of workmanship is unrivalled and another of Robert’s clocks is illustrated on plate 38 of English House Clocks 1600–1850 by Anthony Bird. The clock mechanism has been serviced by the highly respected Malcolm Styles of Tunbridge Wells who has confirmed it to be completely original and untouched with no replacements. The chinoiserie case in original condition with hand made glass and beautiful decoration, unrestored and in fine fettle also.

The clock comes with some provenance and the original will of Robert Berry in which he bequeaths to his 'beloved wife Sarah twenty pound of good and lawful money of Great Britain and as many of my household goods and Books as she shall desire and also the gold watch she wears and any Clock and Case she shall desire or that shall be in my possession at the time of my Decease along with my House and £5 a year'. And just six years later Sarah leaves a great fortune to her family and asks her nephew to 'give to the servant that shall live with me at the time of my death the full sum of ten pounds and give the best and greatest part of my fine wearing apparel to some poor persons of my acquaintance, the rest I would have left in the house for Francis'.

Dimensions are: 80 inches high, 19 inches wide and 10 inches deep max.