Longcase Clock
1690-1695 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Dial:
11 inch square brass dial with wheat ear pattern engraved border with three small engraved squares in the centre of each border. The bottom border, below the chapter ring engraved John Ebsworth Londini Fecit. Silvered chapter ring with Roman hour numerals, minute chapter with divisions for each minute and Arabic numerals every five. The inner portion of the chapter ring is engraved with Arabic numerals for the age of the moon. Within this chapter ring is a partially matted annular portion with ringed holes surrounding detailed winding squares. The central part is not matted but is arranged to show the phase of the moon through a circular aperture in a centrally mounted silvered disc with foliar engraved details. Accordingly, the dial centre has at its upper part an engraved face that represents the full moon and a variable extent of black wax filling for the waxing and waning phases. The dial corners have cast brass, winged cherub head spandrels. The dial feet are pinned to the front plate of the movement. Pierced steel hands.
Movement:
Brass and steel weight driven two-train movement, of month duration with count wheel (or locking plate) striking on bell. The count wheel is located almost centrally on the outside of the back plate. Six pillars of finned form are riveted to the back plate and latched to the front. Going train with intermediate wheel, striking train with striking pin wheel carrying a large number of pins; the hoop wheel with two spaces for locking. Where present, wheel collets tend to be of flat-sided dome profile; arbors are non-parallel in section, tending to fatten towards their centres. Wheels have semi-circular crossings with scribe lines at the top of the crossings and the bottom of the teeth on the band, except the escape wheel. Anchor recoil escapement the pallets with considerable addition of metal to the acting faces.
The central disc is operated from the underdial motion work: the hour wheel carries a pinion. This meshes with a large wheel off to one side, which also carries a pinion. This meshes with a separate wheel concentric with the hour wheel, the former carrying the moon disc.
Description and notes by Francis Brodie, c. 2008
11 inch square brass dial with wheat ear pattern engraved border with three small engraved squares in the centre of each border. The bottom border, below the chapter ring engraved John Ebsworth Londini Fecit. Silvered chapter ring with Roman hour numerals, minute chapter with divisions for each minute and Arabic numerals every five. The inner portion of the chapter ring is engraved with Arabic numerals for the age of the moon. Within this chapter ring is a partially matted annular portion with ringed holes surrounding detailed winding squares. The central part is not matted but is arranged to show the phase of the moon through a circular aperture in a centrally mounted silvered disc with foliar engraved details. Accordingly, the dial centre has at its upper part an engraved face that represents the full moon and a variable extent of black wax filling for the waxing and waning phases. The dial corners have cast brass, winged cherub head spandrels. The dial feet are pinned to the front plate of the movement. Pierced steel hands.
Movement:
Brass and steel weight driven two-train movement, of month duration with count wheel (or locking plate) striking on bell. The count wheel is located almost centrally on the outside of the back plate. Six pillars of finned form are riveted to the back plate and latched to the front. Going train with intermediate wheel, striking train with striking pin wheel carrying a large number of pins; the hoop wheel with two spaces for locking. Where present, wheel collets tend to be of flat-sided dome profile; arbors are non-parallel in section, tending to fatten towards their centres. Wheels have semi-circular crossings with scribe lines at the top of the crossings and the bottom of the teeth on the band, except the escape wheel. Anchor recoil escapement the pallets with considerable addition of metal to the acting faces.
The central disc is operated from the underdial motion work: the hour wheel carries a pinion. This meshes with a large wheel off to one side, which also carries a pinion. This meshes with a separate wheel concentric with the hour wheel, the former carrying the moon disc.
Description and notes by Francis Brodie, c. 2008
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 5 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | The case veneered with walnut and burr walnut, decorated with panels of floral marquetry and a brass surrounded oval of bottle glass in the door. |
| Brief description | Longcase clock, 1690-1695, English, inscribed 'John Ebsworth London fecit' |
| Physical description | Dial: 11 inch square brass dial with wheat ear pattern engraved border with three small engraved squares in the centre of each border. The bottom border, below the chapter ring engraved John Ebsworth Londini Fecit. Silvered chapter ring with Roman hour numerals, minute chapter with divisions for each minute and Arabic numerals every five. The inner portion of the chapter ring is engraved with Arabic numerals for the age of the moon. Within this chapter ring is a partially matted annular portion with ringed holes surrounding detailed winding squares. The central part is not matted but is arranged to show the phase of the moon through a circular aperture in a centrally mounted silvered disc with foliar engraved details. Accordingly, the dial centre has at its upper part an engraved face that represents the full moon and a variable extent of black wax filling for the waxing and waning phases. The dial corners have cast brass, winged cherub head spandrels. The dial feet are pinned to the front plate of the movement. Pierced steel hands. Movement: Brass and steel weight driven two-train movement, of month duration with count wheel (or locking plate) striking on bell. The count wheel is located almost centrally on the outside of the back plate. Six pillars of finned form are riveted to the back plate and latched to the front. Going train with intermediate wheel, striking train with striking pin wheel carrying a large number of pins; the hoop wheel with two spaces for locking. Where present, wheel collets tend to be of flat-sided dome profile; arbors are non-parallel in section, tending to fatten towards their centres. Wheels have semi-circular crossings with scribe lines at the top of the crossings and the bottom of the teeth on the band, except the escape wheel. Anchor recoil escapement the pallets with considerable addition of metal to the acting faces. The central disc is operated from the underdial motion work: the hour wheel carries a pinion. This meshes with a large wheel off to one side, which also carries a pinion. This meshes with a separate wheel concentric with the hour wheel, the former carrying the moon disc. Description and notes by Francis Brodie, c. 2008 |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | LONG-CASE CLOCK
ENGLISH; about 1690
By John Ebsworth of London.(pre October 2000) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by C. D. Rotch |
| Object history | J Ebbsworth longcase clock, Claude Rotch bequest Notes from R.P. 61/3157 One of 138 pieces of English Furniture bequeathed by C D Rotch in 1961. Appears on Inventory "87. Clock by J Ebbsworth. Longcase marquetrie, genuine carved cresting on top of hood, a very unusual matter, Phases of Moon. Month movement. Illustrated by Britten. Last Edition. Exhibited Burlington House Chas II Exhibition No. 242 - - - £650". The notation "photo" appears in the margin. 7/12/62 V & A Press Release refers to two longcase clocks which are "classic examples of the late 17th century one which retains (in part) its original carved cresting (no.13)". There is a note in the files from 1956 that states that papers concerning the bequest of Furniture & Pictures by Mr Rotch have been refiled on the Confidential File (SF50). Remarks: Nice details on some parts of the steelwork, such as striking levers, springs. Earlier shaped hour wheel bridge, more lozenge-like in appearance than rectangular. The escape wheel appears slightly different in colour than other train wheels; note also the lack of scribe lines. New pulleys! Scratchings on the u/s of the dial disc: “C F 1830 T.Hayes Camden Town” and “F Elkington Brentwood 14/10/70” Scratchings on the outside of the front plate: “W.Galbraith 651” “Elkington Jan” (?) “27/11/14” “London 1734 Nov” (?) “174 C.Town 1830” “W Hunter Brixton 1846” “PN” (?) “Nov 1843” Description and notes by Francis Brodie, c. 2008 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.95:1 to 5-1962 |
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| Record created | January 26, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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