Joseph Knibb London

• 10-inch latched dial with wheatear border and signed along the lower edge Joseph Knibb Londini Fecit, winged cherub spandrels, silvered skeletonized chapter ring with individually numbered minutes on a finely matted ground, date aperture at XII, well pierced hands • the three train movement with ten ring turned and knopped pillars, six with latches and four pinned, triple divided front plate, reversed five wheel trains, anchor escapement with butterfly nut regulation above the back cock, the backplate cut for the anchor and mounted with a small count wheel cut for the quarters and a large count wheel cut for the hours, striking on two bells • the case with shallow domed caddy top and moulded cornice above a frieze fret and gilt swags, brass-capped spiral hood pilasters, scroll side frets, rectangular trunk door and plinth inlaid with banding and stringing, on later ogee bracket feet

Wetherfield Collection
Mrs. Reginald H. Fullerton, Sr. purchased from Arthur S. Vernay, Inc., 1930

E. Bruton, Wetherfield Collection Collection of Clocks, p. 144, pl.96.
R. A. Lee, The Knibb Family Clockmakers, p. 33, pl. 26.

Spectacular clock in very good condition, with rare and unusual striking The dial- with lovely original gilding , one bell looks rather crudely made and is likely later. The pendulum is likely a replacement, the hood now lacking hood catch, finals appear to be later the base is also replaced, the latter two were already replaced at the time they were photographed in the Weatherfield collection catalague The case with 2 pieces of detached veneer and will need to be reattached, otherwise expected crazing and splits to veneer, but not at all severe. The clock is going and striking order, however would benefit from a clean.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

Joseph Knibb, the most famous and inventive member of the celebrated Knibb clockmaking family was born circa 1640. He was apprenticed to his cousin Samuel in about 1655 and after serving seven years, he worked first at Oxford and then moved to London in 1670 where he was made Free of the Clockmaker's Company. He must soon have built up a good reputation for himself as it is recorded that he supplied a turret clock for Windsor Castle in 1677 and payments were made to him in 1682 on behalf of King Charles II.

No other maker produced such an intriguing variety of striking and repeating mechanisms and the double six hour method is an attempt to provide grande sonnerie striking in a long duration clock.  A month-going hour striking longcase clock is required to sound the bell 4836 times in thirty one days.  Full grande sonnerie striking, where the hours and quarters are indicated every quarter hour, requires the hour bell to sound 19,344  times in thirty one days.  With Knibb's double six hour method, the hour count wheel is divided to provide striking to six twice in twelve hours which requires a reduction in the number of hour blows to 10,416. The quarters are struck on a smaller bell from the quarters count wheel on the left hand train. The notation can initially be confusing and this may be why double six hour clocks are so rare.

Towards the end of the 17^th century Joseph Knibb moved to Hanslop in Buckinghamshire. A few clocks with the Hanslop address are known but by the early years of the 18^th century Knibb had virtually retired; he died in December 1711.

The present clock is one of two important complicated longcase clocks known to have been owned by Henry Graves, Jr., The other was an immensely complicated astronomical clock by Thomas Tompion, which had been left to Marilyn Preston Graves, granddaughter of Henry Graves Jr., Mr. Fullerton's first cousin. Upon Marilyn Preston Graves death in 1998, the clock was bequeathed to the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The four watches she inherited from her grandfather were sold by Sotheby's in June 1999. The clock is currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum.  For an illustration of the Tompion see R.W. Symonds, Thomas Tompion and His Life and Work, p.57, figs. 16-17 and a discussion of the clock on p. 266-267

Although the label in the interior of the clock lists the purchaser as Mrs. Reginald Fullerton Sr., it is likely that she purchased it either on behalf of her father or as a gift for him. The present clock, like the Tompion, is amongst the most complicated clocks made by Knibb. According to the label, the clock was purchased in 1930, when Mr. Graves had already been in receipt of several of his complicated watches from Patek Philippe, including both tonneau minute repeating wristwatches, one of which is in yellow gold, which is lot 8 in the present sale and its virtual twin in platinum, housed in the collection of the Patek Philippe Museum. Just four years earlier, in 1928, he also commissioned Patek Philippe to make for him the most complicated watch in the world. Patek Philippe would eventually deliver their commission five years later and title the watch 'The Supercomplication'.