17th century, small oak, 30 hour longcase clock with 9 inch dial by william noke of shropshire. Circa 1690.

A rare survivor of the English King William III period and being of exceptional appearance.

Stock No:   14460

The 30 hour duration posted movement with Anchor Recoil escapement and countwheel striking the hours on a top-mounted, cast bell. Having 'Lantern clock' style brass rear pillars and flat front pillars to accept the dial feet. The early style pinion arbors are not colleted but are flanged to mount the wheels. The movement has iron top and bottom plates.

Behind only a 9" square brass dial with a finely matted centre and fire-gilded, cast brass, winged putti corner spandrels. The silvered, engraved and wax-filled brass chapter ring has tall Roman hour numerals within double-track ring borders and elaborated 'cruciform' half hour markings. The inner portion has a divided quarter track with conforming border. It is signed across the bottom to either side of the numeral VI "Wm. Noke Fecit" The single steel hand is pierced and tailed.

Contained in a plain oak case of considerable weight and hardness and of rich colour and patina. The flat overhang top is above a frieze with a blind fret to the front which in turn, sits upon an overhanging moulding over the hood door. The door is glazed and has integral 'barley twist' pillars with bobbin capitals. The are quarter pillars copied to the rear and fixed to ears. The sides have tall glazed apertures. The hood terminates with a moulded floor and slides over the convex-over-concave trunk throat. The plain trunk has a full-size locking door with iron strap hinges, half-round edge mouldings and a circular glass lenticle with conforming circular moulding. The plain base has a large and conforming top moulding and four, squashed bun feet.

* William Noke is recorded as being from Beobridge, Claverley (Shropshire) and was probably born circa mid 1600's. He was recorded as a Watchmaker when his will was proved in 1718 and a Longcase clock is known by him with an 8" dial and lantern clock style posted movement signed "Wm. Noke Fecit". I am assuming that this is the same clock with the unlikely 8" wide dial dimension as an error or a 'rough guess'.

** This is an extremely attractive clock, very rare and of 'Tudor' appearance. It was purchased privately and is a jewel of a find. The heavy case feels as strong as iron and the oak tree that it was cut from would already have been several hundreds of years old when it was felled. It is very small - under 6 feet 5 inches high and literally appears 'cute'! It is hard to imagine that a modest Midland-made 30 hour longcase clock has survived for around 330 years practically intact and plainly been working for most of its life. This clock exudes charisma and charm and if you have an appropriate setting then it must be for you - I would love to know that this beautiful clock was returned to a very old house. What blows my mind is that this mechanical, guaranteed and accurate device was made by a man who was born around 375 years ago!

Dimensions:                76 1/2" high x 16 1/2" wide x 10" deep.

Circa:                          1690.

Condition:                    Very original throughout. Since the photographs were taken, I have given the
                                    movement a complete, non-cosmetic overhaul and it is working perfectly. The rope
                                    sprockets have long ago been changed for chain sprockets but the original wooden
                                    pulley wheel has been retained. Though crudely made, the escapement picks up to
                                    double what it requires and emits a lovely and even sound.

                                    The pictures of the dial and case are self evident and show that the lower portion of 
                                    the back board has had a rotten section removed. The case has undergone
                                    maintenance and repairs over the centuries including cheek repairs and covered
                                    holes have been cut into the trunk sides to stop the pendulum 'knocking'. I have
                                    lightly restored the dial so that the time can be easily read but it has retained its aged
                                    look and the chapter ring is crisp suggesting that it has not undergone re-silvering
                                    many times in its life.

Price:                           £8,950 in guaranteed working condition.