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A HIGHLY IMPORTANT GEORGE I WALNUT ASTRONOMICAL, ASTROLOGICAL AND ORGAN LONGCASE CLOCK, CHRISTOPHER PINCHBECK, LONDON, CIRCA 1715
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Description
The Dial:
14 3/4 x 22 1/4-inch shaped dial signed on an applied blued steel sector in gilt lettering Christopher Pinchbeck, Londini Fecit, center seconds, 2 x XII silvered chapter ring, outer arabic minute ring, central hour chapter dividing two sectors representing day and night, the double ended hour hand with sun and moon effigies, two sets of manually operated shutters geared together to indicate the length of the day and night and to show the sun and moon rising and setting, the left scale calibrated for the length of day and night hours throughout the year, the right scale calibrated for the height of the sun when it crosses the meridian (measured in degrees and minutes for the latitude 51 24', London), five silvered subsidiary dials above, the central dial centered with a revolving blued steel disc decorated with gilt stars and set with a penny moon and a 2 x XII chapter ring, concentric outer rings calibrated for age of the moon and high tide indication at the following 30 ports: Dover, Rochester, Zealand, London, Amster(dam), Brest, Cork, Wales, Hambro, Cap(e), Clear, Dublin, Isle of Ma(n), Tergoro, Coros, Harwich, Dunki(rk), Flushing, Bell Isle, Lisbon, Roterd(am), Bourdea(ux), Calice, Severn, Hull, Lezard, Yarmouth, Dunbar, Shoram, Norman, Cal Shot and engraved with the trine, quartile, sextile and opposition aspects of the moon, flanked by two small dials indicating date and day-of-the-week with corresponding astrological sign, two further dials below indicating the 12 Signs of the Zodiack, combined with the parts of the body affected by the moon: Cancer; breast, Gemini; arms, Taurus; throat, Aries; head, Pisces; feet, Capricorn; leggs, Acquarius; knees, Sagitarius; thighes, Scorpio; secrets, Libra; reines, Virgo; belly, Leo; heart and the suns place in the Ecliptick and Southing of 18 Starrs.
The Movement:
Two-train weight-driven 6-baluster pillar movement with anchor escapement and outside countwheel bell striking, the backplate cut for the anchor and barrel ratchets, the frontplate extended to carry the astronomical/astrological motion work driven from the clock's motion work by a series of worm gears and nag's head levers, the countwheel pinned to release the organ.
The Organ:
Of brass, wood and iron construction, 3-pillar weight-driven movement with high count train, driving a large steel-pinned wood cylinder (30cm long x 15cm diameter) and playing one of the 12 airs with 13 plunge regulators on 26 wood and 13 lead pipes by a pair of bellows, some later restoration. Organ height 3ft. (91.5cm.), width 19in. (48cm.)
The Case:
Oak carcass veneered overall with walnut of fine color and graining, the hood comprising two sections, the stepped cresting surmounted by five giltwood figures and faced by mock giltwood organ pipes, two further figures in niches to the sides, the lower section with a broken-arched shaped door, outset tapering pillars with brass capitals and ornate pierced and engraved foliate side frets, the trunk with a long shaped door set with a gently bevelled mirror, flanked by further giltwood figures and dolphins, plain plinth laid into panels by wheatear stringing, the sides similarly decorated and set with four levers to control the operation of the organ.
14 3/4 x 22 1/4-inch shaped dial signed on an applied blued steel sector in gilt lettering Christopher Pinchbeck, Londini Fecit, center seconds, 2 x XII silvered chapter ring, outer arabic minute ring, central hour chapter dividing two sectors representing day and night, the double ended hour hand with sun and moon effigies, two sets of manually operated shutters geared together to indicate the length of the day and night and to show the sun and moon rising and setting, the left scale calibrated for the length of day and night hours throughout the year, the right scale calibrated for the height of the sun when it crosses the meridian (measured in degrees and minutes for the latitude 51 24', London), five silvered subsidiary dials above, the central dial centered with a revolving blued steel disc decorated with gilt stars and set with a penny moon and a 2 x XII chapter ring, concentric outer rings calibrated for age of the moon and high tide indication at the following 30 ports: Dover, Rochester, Zealand, London, Amster(dam), Brest, Cork, Wales, Hambro, Cap(e), Clear, Dublin, Isle of Ma(n), Tergoro, Coros, Harwich, Dunki(rk), Flushing, Bell Isle, Lisbon, Roterd(am), Bourdea(ux), Calice, Severn, Hull, Lezard, Yarmouth, Dunbar, Shoram, Norman, Cal Shot and engraved with the trine, quartile, sextile and opposition aspects of the moon, flanked by two small dials indicating date and day-of-the-week with corresponding astrological sign, two further dials below indicating the 12 Signs of the Zodiack, combined with the parts of the body affected by the moon: Cancer; breast, Gemini; arms, Taurus; throat, Aries; head, Pisces; feet, Capricorn; leggs, Acquarius; knees, Sagitarius; thighes, Scorpio; secrets, Libra; reines, Virgo; belly, Leo; heart and the suns place in the Ecliptick and Southing of 18 Starrs.
The Movement:
Two-train weight-driven 6-baluster pillar movement with anchor escapement and outside countwheel bell striking, the backplate cut for the anchor and barrel ratchets, the frontplate extended to carry the astronomical/astrological motion work driven from the clock's motion work by a series of worm gears and nag's head levers, the countwheel pinned to release the organ.
The Organ:
Of brass, wood and iron construction, 3-pillar weight-driven movement with high count train, driving a large steel-pinned wood cylinder (30cm long x 15cm diameter) and playing one of the 12 airs with 13 plunge regulators on 26 wood and 13 lead pipes by a pair of bellows, some later restoration. Organ height 3ft. (91.5cm.), width 19in. (48cm.)
The Case:
Oak carcass veneered overall with walnut of fine color and graining, the hood comprising two sections, the stepped cresting surmounted by five giltwood figures and faced by mock giltwood organ pipes, two further figures in niches to the sides, the lower section with a broken-arched shaped door, outset tapering pillars with brass capitals and ornate pierced and engraved foliate side frets, the trunk with a long shaped door set with a gently bevelled mirror, flanked by further giltwood figures and dolphins, plain plinth laid into panels by wheatear stringing, the sides similarly decorated and set with four levers to control the operation of the organ.
Catalogue Note
Christopher Pinchbeck, Senior, an eminent clock, watch and toy maker, was born in 1670 and died in 1732. He is best remembered as the inventor of a zinc and copper alloy, resembling gold, and named after him.
Very few clocks by Pinchbeck are recorded and of those the majority are listed in contemporary newspaper advertisements and articles. These clocks are usually complicated pieces incorporating astronomical work, organs and automata. Indeed Pinchbeck's shop was at the Sign of the Astronomico-Musical Clock in Fleet Street, London.
Obviously a level-headed businessman, Pinchbeck used many forms of advertising to sell his wares. He regularly placed advertisements in the London newspapers and from these records we are able to identify the present lot from an advertisement, with text and a woodcut, in `Applebee's Original Weekly Journal', 24th to 31st August, 1717. Apparently, known records show that this exists as the first ever illustration of an English longcase clock to be depicted in a newspaper journal. The engraver of the woodcut seems to have used his artistic license as the details and proportions differ from those of the actual clock, although the dial layouts, hood shapes and trunk doors look identical.
The advertising indeed makes for interesting reading: `This is to acquaint the Curious that there is to be seen at the Blew Bell upon the Broad Stones, against the Hospital Gate in West Smithfield and will be continued there until the 6th September and then to be removed to the Sign of the White Peruke, within Two Doors of the Kings Bench in Southwark, the most Wonderful Piece of Art in Europe, being an Astronomical and Musical Clock; far exceeding the original, and Valued at One Thousand Guineas. The chief performances of his most Noble and Famous Machine, are as follows, Viz At the end of every Three Hours or at Pleasure, it plays a Variety of Jiggs, Minuets, Marches, Countey Dances and Opera Tunes, on the Organ Flute, or Flagelet, Single or in Consort; with such regular Shakes, and proper Graces that its Performance is infinitely beyond what can be more imagined. But what most agreeably surprises all that hear it, is the sweet Harmony that follows from an Avery of Birds, which is imitated to such wonderful Perfection, that it's not to be distinguished from Nature itself. It sheweth the Golden Number, Epact, the Circle of the Sun and the Dominical Letter for ever, both Old and New Style by Indexes or Hands; the One makes its Revolution once in Nineteen Years and the Other in Twenty Years.
Likewise it Sheweth the Diurnal and Annual Motion of the Sun, with the exact Time of his Rising and Setting; the Length of the Day and Night at all Times; also his Meridian Altitude: the Increase, Decrease, Full and Change of the Moon, with its Southing; Likewise Eighteen of the most noted fix'd Stars with their Time of coming on the Meridian. Also it shows the Time of High Water at Thirty several Sea Ports, with the Aspects of the two great Luminaries; and several other Curiosities, too tedious to mention. Vivat Rex. Note this famous CLOCK was never shown before and was made by the Person that made the other which was shown here this Time Twelve-months and was Purchased by a Peer of this Realm.'
An earlier advertisement in the 'Daily Courant' in 1716 describes a similar clock but does not give details of its various functions. It was also complicated and obviously a great crowd pleaser, as members of the public paid between 6 pence and 2 shillings (15 cents) to view the clock at various locations in London. Some other English makers produced complicated astronomical and musical clocks, perhaps the most noted makers were Samuel Watson who specialized in astronomical clocks and Henry Bridges who made astronomical-musical clocks. Fine examples by both these are to be seen in The British Museum, London. Sadly, only the movement still exists o
Very few clocks by Pinchbeck are recorded and of those the majority are listed in contemporary newspaper advertisements and articles. These clocks are usually complicated pieces incorporating astronomical work, organs and automata. Indeed Pinchbeck's shop was at the Sign of the Astronomico-Musical Clock in Fleet Street, London.
Obviously a level-headed businessman, Pinchbeck used many forms of advertising to sell his wares. He regularly placed advertisements in the London newspapers and from these records we are able to identify the present lot from an advertisement, with text and a woodcut, in `Applebee's Original Weekly Journal', 24th to 31st August, 1717. Apparently, known records show that this exists as the first ever illustration of an English longcase clock to be depicted in a newspaper journal. The engraver of the woodcut seems to have used his artistic license as the details and proportions differ from those of the actual clock, although the dial layouts, hood shapes and trunk doors look identical.
The advertising indeed makes for interesting reading: `This is to acquaint the Curious that there is to be seen at the Blew Bell upon the Broad Stones, against the Hospital Gate in West Smithfield and will be continued there until the 6th September and then to be removed to the Sign of the White Peruke, within Two Doors of the Kings Bench in Southwark, the most Wonderful Piece of Art in Europe, being an Astronomical and Musical Clock; far exceeding the original, and Valued at One Thousand Guineas. The chief performances of his most Noble and Famous Machine, are as follows, Viz At the end of every Three Hours or at Pleasure, it plays a Variety of Jiggs, Minuets, Marches, Countey Dances and Opera Tunes, on the Organ Flute, or Flagelet, Single or in Consort; with such regular Shakes, and proper Graces that its Performance is infinitely beyond what can be more imagined. But what most agreeably surprises all that hear it, is the sweet Harmony that follows from an Avery of Birds, which is imitated to such wonderful Perfection, that it's not to be distinguished from Nature itself. It sheweth the Golden Number, Epact, the Circle of the Sun and the Dominical Letter for ever, both Old and New Style by Indexes or Hands; the One makes its Revolution once in Nineteen Years and the Other in Twenty Years.
Likewise it Sheweth the Diurnal and Annual Motion of the Sun, with the exact Time of his Rising and Setting; the Length of the Day and Night at all Times; also his Meridian Altitude: the Increase, Decrease, Full and Change of the Moon, with its Southing; Likewise Eighteen of the most noted fix'd Stars with their Time of coming on the Meridian. Also it shows the Time of High Water at Thirty several Sea Ports, with the Aspects of the two great Luminaries; and several other Curiosities, too tedious to mention. Vivat Rex. Note this famous CLOCK was never shown before and was made by the Person that made the other which was shown here this Time Twelve-months and was Purchased by a Peer of this Realm.'
An earlier advertisement in the 'Daily Courant' in 1716 describes a similar clock but does not give details of its various functions. It was also complicated and obviously a great crowd pleaser, as members of the public paid between 6 pence and 2 shillings (15 cents) to view the clock at various locations in London. Some other English makers produced complicated astronomical and musical clocks, perhaps the most noted makers were Samuel Watson who specialized in astronomical clocks and Henry Bridges who made astronomical-musical clocks. Fine examples by both these are to be seen in The British Museum, London. Sadly, only the movement still exists o