Beschreibung:

A Charles II gilt brass lantern clock Benjamin Hill, London, circa 1665 The posted countwheel bell-striking movement with later anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum swinging outside of the frame of the clock to the rear, the dial with central starburst decorated alarm disc enveloped by stylised leafy tulip sprays issuing from a three-petal flowerhead positioned just above six o'clock and with signature Benjamin Hill in fleete, Streete Londini to upper margin, with iron hand within applied narrow Roman numeral chapter ring with stylised wheatear half hour markers and engraved leafy infill to angles, the standard London third period frame with column turned corner posts beneath dolphin inhabited foliate pierced frets, vase turned finials and domed bell bearer, the sides with hinged brass doors, the rear with iron backplate, hanging hoop and spurs, on turned ball feet (in unrestored condition, top finial and alarm mechanism lacking), 34cm (13.5ins approx) high. Provenance: From the estate of an esteemed antiquarian horologist. Literature: The dial of the current lot is illustrated in Antiquarian Horology September 1999 (vol. XXV, no. 1) page 47; the whole clock is also subsequently illustrated in the March 2001 issue (Vol XXVI, no. 1) on page 58. Benjamin Hill is recorded in Loomes, Brian LANTERN CLOCKS & Their Makers as born in Hatton, Warwickshire in 1617 and apprenticed through the Blacksmiths' Company to Richard Child in 1632. He was made a free Brother of the Clockmakers' Company in 1640, served as an Assistant in 1651, Warden from 1652 and was appointed Master in 1657. In 1645 Benjamin Hill married Gunnett Say (sister of fellow clockmaker Nehemiah Say) at St. Bride's, Fleet Street and by 1646 he had set up in Boar's Head Alley off Fleet Street in St. Dunstan's Parish (possibly Cock and Key Court). His property was subsequently destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 causing him to relocate to Fetter Lane. Benjamin Hill died in 1670 and was buried at St. Dunstan's; his will and inventory survives with the latter published and discussed by Jeremy Evans in his article BENJAMIN HILL, SOME FURTHER NOTES in Antiquarian Horology March 2001 (vol. XXVI, no. 1) page pages 52-61. Of Benjamin Hill around half a dozen lantern clocks have been documented and at least three watches are known to survive, a slightly earlier clock by him is also included in the sale (lot ???). The frame used for the current lot is of pattern typical of London 'third period' work (as illustrated by White, George English Lantern Clocks page 180 figures IV/37 - IV/39) and superseded the earlier variant used for lot ??? and the previous lot. The design of the engraved decoration to the dial centre of the present clock is also very typical of London third period work and can be directly compared to numerous clocks by the likes of Nicholas Coxeter, Thomas Wheeler and John Ebsworth (see following lot). The form of the hand harks back to earlier second period work (see lots 152 and 153) but persisted well into the third period in the hands of makers such as Ebsworth (see the following lot and White, page 179 figure IV/35). The gilding to the dial and frame is a very rare feature which would have involved a great deal of time and expense suggesting that the current clock was supplied to order for a particularly discerning client. Condition report disclaimer