A fine Charles II eight-day longcase clock movement Edward East London circa 1675-80 The six finned and latched pillar movement with plates measuring approximately 7.75 by 5 inches enclosing fine delicate wheel-work, the going train with bolt-and-shutter maintaining power and anchor escapement for regulation by seconds pendulum and the strike train with external countwheel striking on a domed bell mounted above the plates, with a 9.5 inch square gilt brass dial with slender subsidiary seconds dial and calendar aperture to the matted centre within applied narrow silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with stylised fleur-de-lys half hour markers and Arabic five minutes within the outer minute track, with fine pierced and sculpted steel hands and winged cherub head cast spandrels to angles and engraved Edwardus East Londini to lower margin. Edward East was born in Southill Bedfordshire in 1602 and was apprenticed in 1618 to Richard Rogers until 1626, gaining his freedom of the Goldsmith's Company the following year. He was appointed as one of the first Assistants of the Clockmakers Company (a year after the charter was granted by Charles I in 1631) later becoming Master twice in 1645 and 1653. He worked first from Pall Mall, London subsequently moving to the Fleet Street/Temple Bar area by the 1640's, in November 1660 he was appointed chief clockmaker to King Charles II. Edward East certainly had the longest and perhaps one of the most distinguished careers in English clockmaking during the 'Golden Period' taking on eight apprentices between 1643 and 1676 (including Henry Jones from 1654 to 1663). East was the only original Assistant surviving when the Grant of Arms was awarded to the Clockmakers' Company in 1671. Edward East drafted his Will in 1688 and on his death in 1696 he was clearly a wealthy man leaving property to his four children including a residence in Hampton, Middlesex and a coaching Inn called 'The Swan with Two Necks' which was bequeathed to his daughter, Anne Saunders. The current movement can be compared to an example offered at Bonhams in their sale of Fine Clocks held on 10th December 2014 (lot 85) which sold for £116,500. In particular the positioning of the movement pillars and layout of the wheel trains is very similar to that of the current lot as is the script of the signature to the lower edge of the dial. The backcock follows East's unusual practice in having the pendulum suspension block cast separate and sliding into a tapered dovetail slot. This detail is noteworthy as it facilitates the end-float of the pallet arbor to be checked hence allowing the pivot to run more efficiently.
A fine Charles II eight-day longcase clock movement Edward East London circa 1675-80 The six finned and latched pillar movement with plates measuring approximately 7.75 by 5 inches enclosing fine delicate wheel-work, the going train with bolt-and-shutter maintaining power and anchor escapement for regulation by seconds pendulum and the strike train with external countwheel striking on a domed bell mounted above the plates, with a 9.5 inch square gilt brass dial with slender subsidiary seconds dial and calendar aperture to the matted centre within applied narrow silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with stylised fleur-de-lys half hour markers and Arabic five minutes within the outer minute track, with fine pierced and sculpted steel hands and winged cherub head cast spandrels to angles and engraved Edwardus East Londini to lower margin. Edward East was born in Southill Bedfordshire in 1602 and was apprenticed in 1618 to Richard Rogers until 1626, gaining his freedom of the Goldsmith's Company the following year. He was appointed as one of the first Assistants of the Clockmakers Company (a year after the charter was granted by Charles I in 1631) later becoming Master twice in 1645 and 1653. He worked first from Pall Mall, London subsequently moving to the Fleet Street/Temple Bar area by the 1640's, in November 1660 he was appointed chief clockmaker to King Charles II. Edward East certainly had the longest and perhaps one of the most distinguished careers in English clockmaking during the 'Golden Period' taking on eight apprentices between 1643 and 1676 (including Henry Jones from 1654 to 1663). East was the only original Assistant surviving when the Grant of Arms was awarded to the Clockmakers' Company in 1671. Edward East drafted his Will in 1688 and on his death in 1696 he was clearly a wealthy man leaving property to his four children including a residence in Hampton, Middlesex and a coaching Inn called 'The Swan with Two Necks' which was bequeathed to his daughter, Anne Saunders. The current movement can be compared to an example offered at Bonhams in their sale of Fine Clocks held on 10th December 2014 (lot 85) which sold for £116,500. In particular the positioning of the movement pillars and layout of the wheel trains is very similar to that of the current lot as is the script of the signature to the lower edge of the dial. The backcock follows East's unusual practice in having the pendulum suspension block cast separate and sliding into a tapered dovetail slot. This detail is noteworthy as it facilitates the end-float of the pallet arbor to be checked hence allowing the pivot to run more efficiently.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
