Beschreibung:

A fine Charles II brass lantern clock Thomas Power, Wellingborough, circa 1685 The posted countwheel bell striking movement with verge escapement regulated by short bob pendulum swinging within the frame of the clock at the rear, the dial engraved with signature Tho: Power = de Wellingborow to upper margin of the fine leafy tulip spray engraved centre, with pierced iron hand within applied Roman numeral chapter ring with stylised fleur-de-lys half hour markers and angles engraved with curved bands of hatching, the larger than normal frame measuring 6.75 inches between the plates with column turned posts beneath foliate engraved and pierced frets, boldly turned vase finials and domed bell bearer, on generous ball feet, (lacking side doors and backplate), 41cm (16ins) high; with a later oak wall bracket. Thomas Power was born in around 1630, he was working in Wellingborough by the 1660's and continued until his death on 1709 leaving the contents of his workshop to his wife Sarah who died two months later (see Loomes, Brian COMPLETE BRITISH CLOCKS page 94). Unusually inventories of his workshop, made both after his and his wife's death, survive. These inventories record in detail the breadth of his workshop and include tools for making both movements and cases as well as unfinished clocks and jacks. From this information it seems that Power made the cases as well as movements, however it is probable that he outsourced some of the more specialist work such as engraving and marquetry casework to specialist workshops (see Darken, Jeff (ed.) TIME & PLACE English country Clocks 1600-1840 page 88). Thomas Power was a relatively prolific maker with at least eight lantern clocks, five longcase clocks and one table clock known. Loomes notes (online) that his earlier work tended to be signed without a place name - typically Thomas Power Hoc Fabricavit, later the place name was included often as de Wellingborow with the de being dropped in his latter work. The current lot perhaps belongs to his 'middle period' as it is signed along with de Wellingborrow. The dial engraving and the frame castings closely resembles London third period work of the 1680's with the dimensions of the frame conforming with the larger variant of the standard 'Lothbury' pattern. The finials do, however, differ slightly from London-made comparables in the they are heavier and more complex incorporating an additional pronounced knop to the top section. In addition to being a finely made, larger example of Thomas Power's work, the current lot is notable in that it appears to have survived in good original condition. Condition report disclaimer