A rare late Charles II period miniature brass lantern clock by this famous clockmaker. The maker’s signature is engraved along the bottom edge of the front fret and the dial plate has scrolling flowers and foliage.  The centre of the alarm setting disc is engraved with a rosette and has an outer band of Arabic hour numerals.

The well-patinated miniature baluster pillared brass case has foliate frets with intertwining dolphins surmounted by a vase finial and a bell strap with pierced foliate shaped ‘arms’ or ‘leaves’. 

The restored short duration timepiece movement has a knife edge verge escapement and alarm mechanism. It also has the unusual feature, not unknown in John Knibb’s clocks, of a dial with two hands and a band of dots on the outer edge of the chapter ring to indicate the minutes.

Height: 7 ⅞ in (20 cm) excluding finial

             9 ¼ in (23.5 cm) including finial

Width:  3 ½ in (9 cm)

Depth:  4 ¼ in (10.5 cm)

* John Knibb was the illustrious brother of Joseph Knibb who, unlike his older sibling, remained in Oxford his entire working life. He even rose to become Mayor of the City on two occasions. It is clear from the majority of their output that they continued to use the same outworkers and designs for both their clock movements and cases even after Joseph had moved to London in 1670. John Knibb may have even been making clocks for Joseph in London. He had at least 10 apprentices who trained in his workshop prior to their becoming independent clockmakers working in their own right.

HW6363