A CHARLES II THIRTY-HOUR LONGCASE CLOCK MOVEMENT WITH ALARM

ANDREW PRIME, LONDINI FECIT, CIRCA 1670

Details

A CHARLES II THIRTY-HOUR LONGCASE CLOCK MOVEMENT WITH ALARM
andrew prime, londini fecit, circa 1670
The 11in. square brass dial profusely engraved with tulips, daffodils and scrolling foliage, signed in the centre within a drapery lambrequin Andrew Prime Londini Fecit, narrow silvered chapter ring with Roman chapters and quarter-hour markers, single blued steel hand with large tail indicating against a rosette-engraved central alarm disc, the spandrels engraved with cornucopiae of tulips, the birdcage movement with brass pillars and plates, the pillars of rectangular section secured with screwed nuts to the top and bottom, restored anchor escapement with steel suspended pendulum with Knibb-type butterfly rating nut, countwheel hour strike and alarm on large bell with half hour strike on smaller bell, the purpose-made case with panelled rectangular trunk door and similarly panelled sides, the rising hood with architectural pediment and gilt-metal mounts, convex moulding to the plinth on brass bun feet
85½in. (217cm.) high

Literature

Tom Robinson, The Longcase Clock, Woodbridge, 1995, pp. 220, 224-5, pl. 229-301

Lot Essay

Andrew Prime, 1619-1710, was one of the 'fathers' of early English clockmaking. Born the son of a weaver in Norwich and free in 1646. He was closely associated with the Fromanteel family which also came from Norwich. Prime married Ahasuerus's sister in 1646 and had three children, the youngest of which, Abraham, worked for his father. This particular movement has an all-over engraved dial, an early and rather beautiful feature that sadly went out of fashion circa 1675.

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