Object Description
A MAGNIFICENT AND EXTREMELY RARE FIRST PERIOD ENGLISH LANTERN CLOCK, SIGNED ON THE FRONT FRET WILLIAM SELLWOOD AT YE MERMAYDE IN LOTHBURY, c.1635-40, WITH ORIGINAL BALANCE
This classic first-period lantern clock is in pristine condition retaining almost all of its original parts, including the hour hand, the balance, all the wheels as well as the iron backplate, hoop and spikes. There are no spare or plugged holes anywhere in the movement. The pierced coat-of-arms frets between the finials are all engraved, the front one showing the engraved signature along the bottom: William Sellwood at ye Mermayde in Lothbury.
The weight-driven twelve-hour movement is of classic design with the going train in front of the countwheel striking train. The clock is surmounted by a bell in a bell strap, attached to the finials, which in its turn is surmounted by a similarly turned finial. There are later doors to the sides giving access to the movement.
The brass dial plate has a slender brass chapter ring with Roman hour numerals, half-hour and inner quarter-hour divisions. The centre is beautifully engraved depicting floral, vine and leaf motifs around a central rose, indicating the clock was designed without alarm. The time is indicated by a massive single steel hand, which is profiled to allow easy turning by hand.
This clock is truly unique as original balances are extremely rare.
Height: 39cm
The maker
William Sel(l)wood was born in 1607 at Eaton near Oxford. He was apprenticed to Henry Stevens via the Clothmakers’ Company in 1624 and freed in 1632. He became a free Brother of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1633. Almost straight away he took apprentices himself, among them Thomas Knifton, who became a prolific lantern clockmaker. Selwood died in 1653. Thomas Loomes succeeded him, who also became a well-known lantern clockmaker.