Ca. 1800
The proportions of the case are classic, the swan neck pediments swooping, the colour of the oak with much mahogany cross banding and inserts have mellowed to a rich medium brown with, box wood and ebony stringing, and a super patina..... and the dial is extraordinary!
From an etching by George Stubbs, the arch dial depicts A Horse Affrighted by a Lion. Beautifully painted, charmingly naive, and with a 'Bird of Paradise' to the center. Our professional dial restorer has carefully cleaned the dial and touched in the worn lettering.
When George Stubbs first became famous in London in 1763 it was for a painting of this subject - a lion stalking a horse. Horace Walpole published a poem about how he had been profoundly moved by the painting when he saw it at the Society of Artists' exhibition. Several engravers made mezzotints of horses surprised or attacked by lions after paintings by Stubbs, but this etching is the painter's own definitive published version of his design. Although closely related to a painting now at the Tate Gallery, London, the print is not an exact reproduction of any known painted original. Ref; artcyclopaedia.com
Visit artcyclopaedia.com for information on George Stubbs 1724 - 1806, and the Tate Gallery website for many illustrations of his work.
The movement is of thirty hour duration (wind every day), excellent, and by the well known clockmaking family of Shipley's of Derby, active from 1753. Movement has been cleaned and serviced by our own clockmaker...a little clunky on the chain wind as usual, running well and strikes the hour on a bell. Ref; 'Clockmakers and Watchmakers of Derbyshire' by Roy G Hughes and Maxwell Craven.
This clock stood, sleeping for many decades in a local country home before we cleaned and restored it. The condition is excellent, we have replaced the bracket feet to pattern, due to the effects of damp. There are the usual grain splits in the bottom plinth, some small pieces of mahogany cross banding have been replaced over the years.... just the expected condition for any antique of this age....lots of pictures to see details. Brass keyhole escutcheon is original but lock has been replaced. Both patrae are original. A really beautiful, interesting, small Longcase, by excellent makers...... a rare gem, and an eye catching focal point in any country home.
MANY PICTURES - please see our website
http://www.dragon-antiques.com
Click to hear the clock strike!, Click here to watch the clock run
Dimensions: Height 86", Width 18 1/2", Depth 9
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***Sold**** Georgian English Oak Cased Grandfather Clock - George Stubbs 'Horse Frightened by Lion'
