A rare, early English eight-day longcase clock signed on the chapter ring Aynsworth London, dating to the period c.1690-1700.The elegantly proportioned ebonised case, formerly with rising square hood now sliding, is framed with convex mouldings and barley-twist columns. The trunk with mouldings to the door, lenticle and original hinges has a box base raised on bun feet.The fine 10-inch square brass dial with a matted centre has an applied silvered chapter ring, subsidiary seconds dial under the XII, circular date aperture above the VI and fine unusual brass spandrels. The chapter ring is engraved with a narrow outer minute track within which are Arabic five-minute numerals, a central ring of Roman hours I-XII, lozenge-shaped half-hour markers and quarter divisions on the inside. There are three large letters in the matted centre: I W E. I and E are possible the initial letters of the names of a couple, whilst W might refer to a wedding, making the clock a wedding present. The t...