A GEORGE I FIGURED WALNUT EIGHT-DAY LONGCASE CLOCK

A GEORGE I FIGURED WALNUT EIGHT-DAY LONGCASE CLOCKJohn Sebire, London, circa 1720The five pillar rack and bell striking movement with anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum, the 12 inch brass break-arch dial with subsidiary seconds dial and calendar aperture to the finely matted centre within an applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with fleur-de-lys half hour markers, Arabic five minutes to outer track and S/N strike/silent switch at twelve o'clock, with scroll pierced steel hands and applied mask and scroll cast spandrels to angles beneath arch with silvered boss signed John Sebire, LONDON flanked by dolphin cast mounts, in a case with domed caddy surmount and moulded cornice over break-arch hinged glazed dial aperture applied with three-quarter columns to angles with cast gilt brass caps and bases, the sides with rectangular windows and quarter columns set against bargeboards at the rear, the trunk with concave throat moulding over break-arch door with finely figured veneers edged with crossbanding and complex mouldings, the base with concave top mouldings over slightly reduced crossbanded front and later tall skirt.236cm (93ins) high excluding finials, 53cm (21ins) wide, 26cm (10.25ins) deep. Provenance: The Selwyn Demmy Collection. John Sebire is recorded in Loomes, Brian Clockmakers of Britain 1286-1700 as working in the parish of St. Annes Blackfriars. London, from around 1715 until September 1745.Condition Report: Movement is in relatively clean working condition. The trains appear all-original with the possible exception of the escapement pallets which are probably 19th century service replacements. The fifth movement pillar has been removed (often occurred during the 19th century as a means to acquire brass!). The dial is in good clean condition and appears to retain its original hands. The movement is fitted with an old oak seatboard which rests on slips applied to the upper surfaces of the trunk uprights (cheeks); the presence of these slips would suggest that the movement and dial are probably not original to the case.The case is generally in good presentable condition. The hood would have originally been fitted with blind frets to the quadrants either side of the arch and the left hand window has an old lead repair to the pane. The right hand throat moulding is currently loose however re-attachment should be very straightforward. The trunk is otherwise in very good condition with fine quality veneers to the door and fine colour. The door is a little tight on its closing (due to slight movement/shrinkage) this could probably be remedied through adjustment of the door hinges if deemed a problem. The trunk door lock has been braced with a small iron strap applied over the lock to the inside. The base of the case has lost a small amount (probably around an inch) from the 'box' and is applied with a later taller skirt. Whether the original veneers beneath the skirt are intact is unknown. Faults to the case are otherwise limited to relatively minor age related bumps, scuffs shrinkage, a few small historic localised veneer patch repairs and other blemishes commensurate with age and use.Clock has pendulum, two weights, case key (an ill-fitting replacement) but no winder. Condition Report Disclaimer