Rare First Period 1630 Lantern - John Cattle Workshop Restoration Project 2025-JAN 2026

RARE CHARLES I BRASS 'FIRST PERIOD' LANTERN CLOCK POSSIBLY FROM THE WORKSHOP OF JOHN CATTLE, LONDON, CIRCA 1630 The separately wound trains with iron walls to both pulleys, the going now with verge escapement regulated by a short pendulum swinging behind the frame to the rear, the strike train sounding the hours on a bell mounted above the frame via an iron countwheel with overlift provided by a hoop wheel with iron rim cut with a single slot, the dial engraved with concentric ring decoration to the centre and with substantial sculpted brass hand within applied later 6.5 inch Roman numeral chapter ring incorporating wheatear half hour markers, the frame with one-piece column turned corner posts and finials incorporating rounded elements at the junctions between the top and bottom plates, turned Doric column uprights and distinctive ring decorated shouldered ovoid urn finials, the front applied with symmetrical strapwork scroll pierced cast brass fret beneath domed bell bearer capped with a cylindrical finial plinth to take the lugged bell, the rear with iron hanging hoop and spurs and on integral ring decorated ball feet, (no weights, lines, side doors or backplate).36cm (14.25ins) high, 16.5cm (6.5ins) wide, 19cm (7ins) deep. Provenance:The Michael Finnemore Collection of Fine Clocks, Barometers, Scientific Instruments and Mechanical Music. Literature:Illustrated in White, George English Lantern Clocks on page 93 (Figure II/114) showing detail of top plate only. The movement of the current lot can be closely compared to an example described as being 'possibly John Cattle' illustrated in Bruce, Bill EARLY ENGLISH LANTERN CLOCKS 1615-1700 pages 18-19; this clock is also illustrated in Loomes, Brian LANTERN CLOCKS & Their Makers on page 65 (Figures 6.22-23). Most notable amongst the similarities between these two clocks are the use of iron for the countwheel and the rim to the hoop wheel, positioning and general shape of the hour bell spring and stop, profile of the tapered arbors, and the positioning of the great wheels more noticeably towards the centre of their respective arbors (particularly to the going train). Other similarities between these two clocks are the pattern of fret used (with the castings shorted at the apex to allow clearance for the bell) and the frame castings which appear to be near identical.The dial is unusual in that it is adorned with simple concentric ring decoration to the centre (rather than the more typical foliate of radial designs).

Dreweatts ref.