A MARQUETRY LONGCASE CLOCK

A MARQUETRY LONGCASE CLOCK;

SIGNED AMBROSE HAWKINS OF WELLS, LATE 17TH CENTURY AND LATER

the brass eight day movement with four turned pillars and an anchor escapement striking on a bell, the nine inch brass dial with ebonised Roman numerals and fleur-de-lis markers, the matted centre with a date aperture and with pierced hands, signed 'Ambrose Hawkins de Wells fecit', with winged cherub mask spandrels, the oyster veneered and marquetry panelled case inlaid with flowers and birds, the trunk door with a glass lenticle, with pendulum, two weights and winding key

201.3cm high

Provenance

The Estate of the late Jane Sumner.

Catalogue Note

Ambrose Hawkins is one of the earliest West Country clockmakers by whom longcases survive and is well known for the complexity and quality of his movements. He was married in 1688 in Bristol and worked in Wells in Somerset until 1692 when he moved to Exeter. He died as a relatively young man in 1705. A rare grande sonnerie longcase of one month duration by Ambrose Hawkins was sold by Bonhams, Fine Clocks, 10th December 2014, lot 104.