A RARE AND UNUSUAL WALNUT AND BRASS-LINE INLAID MUSICAL AND STRIKING LONGCASE CLOCK WITH MOONPHASE

The arched hood surmounted by three gilt-painted finials, above moulded arch and glazed door, flanked to each side by a spiral-turned column, the trunk with fluted canted angles and inset with an arched raised panel door, on stepped base with square inset raised panel on projecting plinth, the 12 3/4in arched brass dial with silvered and blue-painted moon dial, engraved High Water at Topsham Bar on a silvered arc, above pierced spandrels and silvered chapter ring, signed William Upjohn, Exon about the VI, enclosing a foliate engraved centre with seconds subsidiary and date aperture, with two subsidiaries for Chime/Not Chime and six-tune selector ‘the first of August’/ ‘the King Enjoys his Own’ / ‘A Minuet’ / ‘the Garten’ / ‘Britons strike home’ and ‘the Happy Clown’, the substantial three train, seven-pillar movement with anchor escapement, with rack strike on a single bell, the musical movement playing from a pinned drum, mounted on the backplate, with a carillon of eight bells and sixteen hammers

267cm high

The use of the fine brass line inlays in this case echoes the work of John Channon, a Devonian-born master cabinet maker, who is the greatest exponent of this work.  Whilst the quality of this case here is not as exacting as his work, it seems very likely the provincial maker of this case would have seen Channon's work.

John Channon supplied furniture, including a longcase clock, for Sir William Courtney, circa 1740, for Powderham Castle, the seat of the Earls of Devon.  

William Upjohn (I) is recorded working in Exeter and died 1768.  

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

C. Gilbert & T. Murdoch, John Channon and brass-inlaid furniture 1730-1760, Yale & London, 1993. 

Clive N. Ponsford, Devon Clocks and Clockmakers, Newton Abbot, 1985.

CONDITION REPORT

With steel rod brass bob pendulum, three lead weights and a crank key.  The movement appears to have been well cared for.  A cleaner’s ticket dated 1999 is on the reverse of the dial.  It will need a service though.  

The seatboard is oak and replaced.  The case needs some sympathetic restoration in places.  Brass line inlay lost in places and later filling.  Marks and knocks consistent with age.  Small piece of moulding lost to the upper left side of the panel door.  Some old worm holes on trunk interior carcass pieces.  Sound panel above glazed dial and to each side of hood appears replaced.  A single placement hole to upper side of arch moulding.  This moulding is beginning to loosen from arch.  Some worm holes present in hood.  The glazed dial door is warped to its upper left.