English Long Case Clock

Period

ca. 1690-1695

Material

oak veneered with burrwalnut and walnut

Sizes

(height) 216cm. (width) 26cm. (Length) 45cm.

Description

The Case
The case rests on spherical legs and has a plain base. The middle compartment has a door that is framed with crosscut veneer. The upper compartment has a ‘rising hood’. The hood is decorated with torqued pillars. The hood is topped with a finely carved cove.

The Dial
The square 10” dial is signed: ‘Dan Quare London’ at the bottom between the arabic numerals 35 and 25. The front plate has cast ornamentations in ormolu bronze in the corners that are embellished with putti, leaf motives and engraving. The silver plate dial has roman numerals for the hours, arabic numerals for the minutes and a date-dial.

The Clockwork
The clock has an 8 day going train with anchor escapement. The clockwork is equiped with ‘maintaining power’ and ‘bolt and shutter’. The striking train has an internal locking plate.

The Maker
This long case clock is manufactured by the famous Daniel Quare (1649-1724). Quare was admitted as a brother to ‘the Clockmaker’s Company’ in 1671 and was appointed master of the Company in 1708. After 1709 he entered into a partnership with his apprentice Stephen Horseman, who maintained the company after Quare’s death in 1724. He worked on st Martins-le-Grand and Exchange Alley.
Quare is considered to be among the top of early British clockmaking. He was a dignified competitor to Thomas Tompion, George Graham Joseph Knibb and the Fromanteel family.
Quare’s reputation rests mainly on his inventions. He and Tompion were the first to make a year-running clock in England. He also obtained a patent on a repaeting watch that struck the next hour when a lever was pushed. He also invented a portable barometer. Quare also manufactured mathematical instruments.
Quare was an arch rival op Thomas Tompion. As a practicing quaker he wouldn’t sign any oath of allegiance, which prevented him of being appointed ‘clockmaker to the king’. Quare was very succesful in his busines and had a very important clientele. Quare was layed to rest at the Quaker Cemetery of Bunhill Fields.

Literature
Percy G. Dawson, C.B. Drover & D.W. Parkes, Early English Clocks, Antique Collectors’ Club 1982, p. 281 afb. 383.