Beschreibung:

A fine and very rare brass lantern clock with dial commemorating the accession of Charles II Thomas Wheeler, London, circa 1660 The posted countwheel bell-striking movement with separately wound trains and reinstated verge escapement with brass balance wheel regulation, the dial engraved with central flowerhead enveloped by stylised leafy floral sprays issuing from another flowerhead positioned just above six o'clock and incorporating the Royal crown and inscription C 2 R to upper margin, with an engraved iron hand within applied narrow silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with stylised fleur-de-lys hour markers and engraved leafy infill to angles, the standard London second period 'Lothbury' frame with column turned corner posts beneath engraved foliate scroll pierced dolphin pattern front fret signed Thomas Wheeler Neare the French Church Fecit to lower edge and plain side frets, vase turned finials and domed bell bearer above, the sides with hinged brass doors, on turned ball feet, 40cm (15.75ins) high. Thomas Wheeler is recorded in Loomes, Brian LANTERN CLOCKS & Their Makers as apprenticed in 1648 to Nicholas Coxeter and gaining his freedom of the Clockmakers' Company in 1656. He became Assistant from 1674, Warden from 1680 and was appointed Master in 1684. His last record of attendance was in 1694 and is thought to have died between 1695 and 1701, when his widow received charity from the Company. The current lot appears to be a very rare if not unique example commemorating the Restoration of the Monarchy with the Coronation of Charles II in 1661. The richly engraved decoration to the dial centre relies on bold hatching and incorporates large motifs to fill the space beneath the crown. This decoration was almost certainly executed by the same hand responsible for many dials by various contemporary makers mainly based in and around Lothbury, London throughout the 1650's and can be directly compared to an example by Thomas Knifton which is illustrated in Loomes, Brian LANTERN CLOCKS & Their Makers on page 108 (figs. 8.48 and 8.49). This example by Knifton also shares the same half-hour markers to the chapter ring and interestingly can also be accurately dated to 1660 through its provenance (supplied to Sir Thomas Wendy of Cambridge). The frame castings are of typical second period 'Lothbury' pattern and can also be compared to those used for lot 152 a lantern clock by Thomas Loomes. These details indicate that when made the current lot was perhaps a little old-fashioned being more stylistically rooted in the 'second period' rather than being a pre-curser of the updated 'third period' designs seen later in the decade (see lots 155 and 156). The Coronation of Charles II was the first that saw the production of wares commemorating the event with most taking the form of tin-glazed earthenware vessels and chargers. The demand for such items probably reflected the patriotic mood at the time and allowed Royalists to openly express their support for the Monarchy, as well as provide a much needed revenue stream for those engaged in the production of ceramics amongst others. Today Charles II Commemorative ceramics are highly sought-after by collectors of both early English pottery and Royal commemoratives with prices often pushing into six-figures at auction for the best pieces. When considering the market for early Royal commemoratives the current clock would seem to be particularly good value - especially bearing in mind its rarity and the fact that it was probably more expensive than many of its commemorative pottery counterparts when first made. Condition report disclaimer