A good William III period brass lantern clock by this famous clockmaker. The maker’s signature is engraved in the centre of the dial plate above  scrolling flowers and foliage.  The silvered centre of the alarm setting disc is engraved with a rosette and has an outer band of Arabic hour numerals.

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

The restored short duration movement has an internal swinging knife-edge verge escapement, alarm mounted on the iron backplate and hour strike on a count wheel.

Height: 12 ½ in (32cm) excluding finial

           14 ½ in (37 cm) including finial

Width:  6 ½ in (16.5 cm)

Depth:  7 ½  in (19 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.

HW6504