EDWARD STANTON EBONISED ARCHITECTURAL LONGCASE CLOCK

An extremely elegant and original architectural longcase clock of small proportions by this prominent maker Edward Stanton. Standing at only 6ft 1 ¾” and coming from the Captain Bomford Collection, this clock has only had one other owner since the collection was sold in 1981, this is a very fine quality clock that has not been touched for years and thus the reason for still having the clock in its original case nearly 350 years after it was originally made.

 

Movement: This fine substantial early weight driven movement is rather unusual having an 8 day duration going train with only a 2 day duration striking train. It is unknown exactly why this is, although it is totally original to the clock and so has never been changed. The going train has the bolt and shutter mechanism connected to allow maintain power whilst the clock is being wound with the anchor escapement and 1 ¼ seconds pendulum. The 2 day duration strike train operates via an external count wheel mounted behind the back plate and striking the bell on the hours.

 

Case: The long slender architectural case is particularly small for a longcase clock, some parts are ebony and other parts ebonised upon an oak carcass. The case stands upon a single ebonised plinth. There is the standard lockable door to the trunk of the case with three panels standing proud on the long door, there is also another door to the base with a single proud panel, this is to give access to the 1 ¼ second pendulum bob for regulation purposes. The rising hood has never been altered, with gilt brass foliate swags between Corinthian columns and architectural top.

 

Dial: The 9” square dial has extensive engraving with an English rose to the centre and floral foliage surrounds, featuring the bolt and shutter system hiding the winding arbors. There is a thin fine silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals depicting the hours, Arabic numeral five minute markers and trident half hour markers. Four cherub head and winged spandrels to the corners of the dial plate and signed Edward Stanton Londini Fecit to the lower edge, finished with some ever so fine original blued steel hands.

Provenance:

• Currently – Private collection, UK
• Previously – Private Collection, UK
• Previously – Captain Bomford collection – Auctioned October 1981

 

Comparative Literature:

• Innovation & Collaboration, Garnier & Hollis – Page 206
• Early English Clocks, Dawson, Drover & Parkes – Page 84 & 157
• Clockmakers of Britain 1286 – 1700, Brian Loomes

 

Height: 73 ¾” or 187.5cm

 

CIRCA. 1675

 

*This clock is delivered and set up for free within the UK. We regularly ship clocks all over the world with our approved and well-established Antiques and Fine Art Packers & Shippers. Please ask for a quote should you require this service.

 

Edward Stanton – B.1641 – D.1715

Edward Stanton, of Leadenhall Street, London was apprenticed in 1655 to Francis Bowen (a journeyman to William Bowyer), until Bowens death in 1668, when his apprenticeship was transferred over to Nathaniel Allen, who had only recently received his freedom of the Clockmakers’ Company. It is of no coincidence that Allen was also a former apprentice and workman in the William Bowyer workshop.

Following his seven year apprenticeship under both masters in 1662 he received his freedom from the Clockmakers’ Company, and moved to Fetter Lane in the Parish of St. Dunstan by 1666. He took on many apprentices, most notably one William Cattell who we know later worked for Thomas Tompion, “The Father of English Clockmaking”. In 1688 Stanton witnessed the will of his former apprentice, William Cattell and was overseer to the execution of John Ebsworths will in 1699.

Stanton was a highly regarded clockmaker becoming Master of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1696. He was also one of the original subscribers of the Bank of England when it was founded in 1694 depositing £100. It is understood that Stanton died in 1715.

 

J. C. Collection

 

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