A FINE QUEEN ANNE/GEORGE I ‘TORTOISESHELL’ JAPANNED EIGHT-DAY QUARTER CHIMING LONGCASE CLOCK

A FINE QUEEN ANNE/GEORGE I 'TORTOISESHELL' JAPANNED EIGHT-DAY QUARTER CHIMING LONGCASE CLOCKJohn Faver, London, circa 1715The substantial six pillar triple train bell striking movement with plates measuring 8.75 by 7.25 inches, anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum and chiming the quarters on a nest of six graduated bells, the 12 inch brass break-arch dial with subsidiary seconds dial and calendar aperture to the finely matted centre within applied Roman numeral chapter ring with fleur-de-lys half hour markers and Arabic five minutes to outer track, with scroll-pierced steel hands and fine mask and scroll cast spandrels to angles beneath arch centred with a convex boss signed John Faver, Gerrat Street, London within herringbone border over Strike/Silent selection switch flanked by conforming cornucopia and scroll cast mounts, the simulated tortoiseshell japanned case with gilt landscape painted domed caddy surmounted box upstand, architectural cornice and floral spray decorated upper quadrants above the glazed hood door with alternating gilt floral and trellis band decoration and applied with three-quarter columns to front angles, the sides with rectangular windows and conforming quarter columns set against bargeboards at the rear, the trunk with floral trail painted throat over rectangular door decorated in raised silver highlighted gilt with a stylised oriental garden trellis landscape populated by an equestrian hunting party under a solar disc, the surround with trellis banded panels alternating with foliate trails and landscape infill, the sides with birds in flight over large leafy sprays, the plinth base decorated with floral still life within conforming trellis panel border over double skirt.257cm (101ins) high, 51cm (20ins) wide, 25.5cm (10ins) deep. A John Faver is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as working in London before 1759. Baillie suggests that 'Faver' maybe an anglicisation of the French name 'Fauvre' and that John Faver may well be connected to Henry Fauvre. Loomes in Volume 2 further notes a date of 1741; it is likely that John Faver had Huguenot roots and was a fine maker with two watches in the collection of the Fitzwilliam museum. The combination of quarter chiming movement and highly decorative, finely proportioned tortoiseshell japanned case results in the present clock being a particularly impressive example which would have been the height of fashion during the second decade of the 18th century.Condition Report: Movement is complete and appears all original with no visible evidence of alteration or significant replacements. Although the going and strike trains are operational the quarter train requires adjustment and the movement is generally in slightly dirty neglected condition hence requires a gentle clean/service before putting into service. The silvering to the chapter ring, seconds ring, calendar ring and signature boss has been cleaned-off at some point otherwise dial is in good original albeit discoloured/dirty condition and retains its original hands. The movement retains its original seatboard which rests directly onto the side uprights of the trunk (cheeks) with no evidence of alteration hence we are of the opinion that the movement and dial are original to the case. The dial however does sit a little low in the dial aperture - this is due to the seatboard sagging due to the substantial weight of the three weights.The case is generally in very good condition with no structural issues or evidence of alteration/significant replacements and would in essence appear to be very well preserved. The decoration is correctly executed using appropriate pigments and gilding and has genuine age hence may well be original; however the lack of overall fading, rubbing, wear and build up of grime on the surface gives a fairly 'fresh' appearance which would lead some to suggest that the case may well have been faithfully redecorated perhaps in the early 20th century. There is/are general losses, cracking and flaking to the finish which on the whole is fairly minor however the trunk door has some localised retouching mainly to the raised areas of gilt just above and to the right of the lenticle and also to the figures beneath. This small amount of touching in appears to have been done a while ago which would support the view that the rest of the decoration has significant age. The panel that forms the vertical face of the box upstand of the hood superstructure appears to be a replacement (the original may well have been fretwork); the quadrants flanking the arch also appear to be replacements most likely also replacing fretwork. These two areas have been decorated to match the rest of the case however on close examination the decoration differs a little in the pigments and gilding. The capitals to the rear quarter columns of the hood appear to be replacements and are not of the quality of those of the front three-quarter columns.The clock has pendulum, three brass cased weights but not case key or winder. The trunk door is currently locked.Condition Report Disclaimer