A very fine and rare late 17th century olivewood turntable clock Nathaniel Barrow, London, c 1675.

A very fine and rare late 17th century olivewood turntable clock
Nathaniel Barrow, London, c 1675.
Nathaniel Barrow, London, c 1675.The 'Phase One' Knibb style case with low caddy surmounted by a shaped facetted handle and four ball finials over an ogee cornice, rectangular glazed side panels and a moulded plinth mounted on a turntable base raised on squat ball feet, the 8.75 inch square brass dial with four winged cherubs head spandrels framing the silvered chapter ring, the Arabic five minute numerals engraved within a minute band and the Roman hours with particularly fine half hour markers on an innner quarter hour track, the cente finely matted and set with a chamfered date aperture, with blued steel hands, the and Arabic chapter ring, with four latched dial feet, the twin gut fusee movement united by nine knopped and ringed pillars, all latched, the squat fusees driven by large spring barrels, the going train terminating in a verge escapement pivotted on a knife edge protected by a shaped and engraved backcock, the strike train with outside engraved countwheel and detent striking on a tall domed bell, signed in an engraved shaded drapery cartouche Nathaniel Barrow, London, the backplate further relieved by a pair of tulips emanating from each corner within a single line border 47cms (18.5ins) high.

Nathaniel Barrow (c.1639 - 1700) gained his Freedom in 1660 and rose to become Master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1689. He trained seven apprentices and appears to have been a man of generous nature. He stood as bondsman for other clockmakers and in May 1689 he helped John Layton pay his Clockmakers arrears by deducting a sum for "each movement that Leighton makes for him." In 1668 William Seabourne left his "very loving friend" Nathaniel "my black vest and the breeches that belong to them". (Source Loomes, B. (2014) Clockmakers of Britain 1286-1700. Mayfield: Mayfield Books. Exhibited: Grosvenor House Antiques Fair 2001 with Tony Woodburn.Provenance:Tony Woodburn, 2001.Comparable literature:Lee, R.A. (1964) The Knibb family Clockmakers, Manor House Press, Plates 71, 73, 74 and 76.Dawson, Drover, Parkes, (1982) Early English Clocks. Woodbridge, Colour Plate 8 (an olivewood turntable clock by Thomas Tompion c1673). For similar examples of the plain backplate framed by floral corners see plate 458 (Thomas Tompion), plate 446 (Joseph Knibb) and plate 446, (James Clowes).