A fine James II period  striking ebony veneered table clock of rare small size by this highly respected maker.

The  8-day movement, which sounds the hours from a rack on a single bell, has five finned baluster pillars, a restored  knife edge verge escapement and a pear shaped bob pendulum. The 6-inch square dial has four winged cherub head corner spandrels and a chapter ring with fleur-de-lys half-hour markers. There is an inset date aperture above VI in the matted centre.

The elaborate early backplate is engraved with Dutch tulip flowers amidst foliate scrolls within a scribe line border. The beautiful maker’s signature Henry Younge in the Strand is inscribed just below the centre in a scroll cartouche.

 The small elegant case is veneered with ebony onto an oak carcass. It has a shallow gilt repoussé brass  basket-top with its original carrying handle and four foliate finials.  It stands on four cast brass bun feet.

Height: 12 ½ in (32.5 cm) excluding handle

Width: 9 ½ in (24 cm)

Depth: 6 ¾ in (17 cm)

* Henry Younge was apprenticed in July 1659 to Thomas Taylor of the Strand and was made free of The Clockmakers Company in April 1672. His workshop was also near “the Wine House in the Strand” where he had a number of apprentices.

 He was a very fine early clockmaker whose work often has a number of distinctive features including the very early use of innovative rack-striking in his table clocks.

References:

Loomes, Brian,. The Early Clockmakers of Great Britain. pp 541.

Loomes, Brian,. Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World: 21^st Century Edition.  p. 866.

HW6502