Robert Gregory, Londini Fecit. A floral marquetry decorated longcase clock features a rising hood. This clock dates to the late 17th century. EEE-11.
Robert Gregory is listed in Brian Loomes Clockmakers and Watchmakers of the World as a member of the Clockmaker Company in 1678 – 1697. He served in an apprenticeship under Henry Crumpe, which he started in about 1670. Robert died in Abington (Berks) in 1700.
In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, English clockmakers were recognized universally as producing the best clock movements and watches. As a result, countries such as Turkey, Spain, Portugal, France, and Russia imported English clocks.
This case has typical proportions for a clock made during this early period. Clocks of this period tend to be narrow and are typically constructed on a smaller scale than examples made just 20 years later. This example stands approximately 6 feet 7.5 inches or 79.5 inches tall and is 19.25 inches wide at the broadest molding. It represents one of the first forms designed with a 10.5-inches square dial and was made circa 1690.
The case is constructed in oak and is decoratively veneered in richly figured walnut. The elaborate floral inlaid panels are a style of work referred to as marquetry. This is a highly skilled process of inlaying multiple pieces of wood in decorative patterns. Here, they are exhibited in the forward-facing surfaces of the case. The individual veneer pieces combine to form floral themes, including roses, carnations, and tulips. The wood is often hand colored to increase the effect. Marquetry-decorated tall case clocks were all the rage in London until about 1715. The sides of the case are veneered in figured walnut panels. The walnut veneers were selected for their excellent grain structure. Please note the uneven surface of this design caused by the shifting of the oak substructure due to shrinkage. This is a telltale sign that this case has age and is not a reproduction.
This fine example rests flat on the floor on an applied molding. A vertical grain pattern terminates at an ebonized quarter-round molding. The base is decorated with the first of multiple inlaid panels. The marquetry work is complex and features numerous colors. The lower section has been professionally restored, which is not uncommon. Many clocks of this early period have experienced decades of cold, damp floors and wet mops, often requiring the lower portions of fine furniture to be maintained. This restoration work is very well done. The molding that transitions the base to the waist is an og form. The cove element of the molding is ebonized. The waist section is quite long, as is the tradition of these early cases. A rectangular-shaped waist door dominates this area. This door fills the waist section. It is designed with an applied half-rounded ebonized molding. This door is formatted with three individual inlaid floral-themed panels. They are carefully balanced on either side of the circular cut-out, trimmed in brass, and fitted with glass. This window feature is called a lenticle. Its purpose is to allow one to view the motion of the brass pendulum bob without opening the clock's door. It also informs the admirer of this clock that this example is fitted with a long pendulum. The long pendulum was a new technology for this early period of clockmaking and suggests that this clock is a much more accurate timekeeper than the examples made 15 years earlier. Open the waist door, and one can easily access the two brass-covered drive weights and the rating nut at the bottom of the brass pendulum bob. The sides of this case are decoratively finished. They are formatted with panels, as was the tradition of many London cabinetmakers. The bonnet is an early style supported by a convex waist molding decorated with floral inlays. The operation of the hood is unusual and is termed a rising hood. The hood is designed to be lifted straight up and over the dial and movement. The hood is guided along the backboard by channels. This process is necessary when winding the clock and setting the time since this hood does not have a hinged hood door. The front is fitted with glass that protects the dial. The frame is inlaid with floral inlays. The corners of the hood are fitted with barely twisted-shaped columns. These are treated with a gilded finish. This gilded treatment has been restored. During the conservation process, it was discovered that they were originally finished in this manner. Above the dial window is a section with a blind brass fret pattern backed in green-colored silk. Glass-fitted rectangular side lights are positioned on each side of the hood.
The 10.5-inch square dial is brass and features applied decorations in the form of spandrels, timering, and seconds ring. The engraved chapter ring frames the matted center on the dial. This center section is textured to make the finely formed steel hands more visible when viewing the dial. The month calendar is framed with decorative engraving. The primary theme includes three crowns. The subsidiary seconds dial is located above the center arbor. The winding arbors and the seconds hole are decorated with ring turnings. The applied time ring is engraved with an interior minute ring, Roman hour numerals, a separate minute ring located outside the hours, and five-minute markers in Arabic form. The time ring, seconds ring, and calendar are silvered. Four heavily cast brass spandrels are applied to the corners of the dial. They are in the form of twin cherubs holding a Maltese cross. This clock is signed on the time ring by the Maker, along with his working location. The hands are beautiful and intricately pierced and filed.
The weight-driven movement is constructed in brass and designed to run for eight days, fully wound, and strike each hour on a bell mounted above the movement. The strike train features a count-wheel in its design. The count wheel is attached to the back of the winding barrel. Both winding barrels are grooved. Five knobbed and finned-turned pillars support the large brass plates. The escapement is a recoil design and features a seconds-length pendulum. Overall, this movement is of excellent quality. The fact that it survives today in excellent working order is proof of this.
This clock was made circa 1690.
Inventory number EEE-11.
