Rare Automata Longcase Clock by Oliver of Hitchin

A very rare and small Home Counties longcase clock with triple automata.

The movement is of 8 day duration with a 5 pillar movement and strikes the hours on a bell. The arched brass dial has a separate silvered brass chapter ring, a silvered brass centre engraved with foliage and scrollwork, a subsidiary seconds ring and a date dial. The corners are decorated with applied brass spandrels. The arch has the rare feature of an Adam & Eve automata. The scene displays Adam & Eve to the centre with the Tree of Life behind them and the Serpent climbing the tree. To the sides a Bear, Lion, Elephant, Leopard, a Dog and even a Unicorn are beautifully painted.

The well proportioned and small mahogany case of London style and quality has a long trunk door veneered with high quality flame veneer and a raised panelled base with a plain double plinth. The hood has reeded angle pillars terminating with brass Doric capitals, inspection windows to the sides and a broken arch top.

Note: Longcase Clocks with Adam & Eve Automata’s are rare. 18th century examples with full brass dials and London style cases are exceptionally rare. The mechanism of this particular clock controlling the automata is extremely complicated and of the highest quality. The case has almost certainly been ordered in from the highly skilled London cabinet makers.

Height: 6'10"

OUR MAIN WEBSITE

Please visit our main website http://www.british-antiqueclocks.com where you can also listen to our clocks. Every striking antique clock on our main website has its own individual sound file. This is particularly useful if you are unable to view our antique clocks in person. Other information regarding the history of the longcase/grandfather clock and how to setup a longcase/grandfather is also a feature of our website.

LAPADA MEMBER

We are a member of LAPADA, The Association of Art and Antique Dealers, which is the UK's largest association of professional dealers in antiques and works of art. We therefore follow a strict Code of Practice upheld by LAPADA which gives further confidence for future purchasers.

Open by appointment only. Please call or email to make arrangements to view our collection of fully restored antique clocks & barometers.