Dutch Longcase Clock

Period

ca. 1680

Material

oak frame veneered with walnut

Sizes

(height) 205.00cm.

Description

Signed on the dial: Joseph Norris Amsterdam
10” dial with date and second indicator
Eight day going trian with anchor escapement
Maintaining power – bolt and shutter.
Striking train with locking plate. Strikes on the hour.

Joseph Norris was born in 1650, presumably in Abbington, England. He worked in London for a short while but came to Amsterdam in 1677. He manufactured long case clocks, wall clocks and watches. Although long case clocks had been made for fifteen years already in London, they were unfamiliar to Amsterdam at the time. Undoubtedly Norris contributed to the introduction of this type of timepieces in the Netherlands. In the period from 1677 to 1681 he probably was the only watchmaker of significance in Amsterdam. We may therefore assume that it was he who introduced the longcase clock to Holland.