joseph windmills london. circa 1695. a fine antique longcase clock, walnut floral marquetry, 6 pillar movement.

Joseph Windmills London, a fine walnut and panelled floral marquetry longcase clock. Circa 1695, the 8-day movement with 6 latched pillars and inside countwheel strike. The 11 inch square dial with finely matted centre and date inset.

Complete and fully working. The movement has been properly cleaned and serviced.
The case is in good, original, condition, not been over-restored and retains an excellent patina.Overall height with centre finial 78 inches.Delivery and setup to UK mainland within 250 miles of BA22 (Somerset) for £95. Viewing/ collection welcome, please call Richard on 01935 840216 to arrange or see Osborne Clocks site for more details.Further notes
Joseph Windmills is acclaimed as one of the great clockmakers working during the ‘golden age’ of English clockmaking. He was born around 1640 and entered the clockmaker’s company in 1671, the same year as Tompion and Quare. He was a prolific maker and, in later years, worked in partnership with his son Thomas.I would estimate this clock dates to around 1695, by this time the fashion for 8-day longcase clocks in London had progressed from the earlier smaller clocks generally with 10 inch dials, to slightly larger clocks mostly with 11 inch dials. The cases to house these fine (and very expensive!) movements were often marquetry, this in itself developed from earlier quite sparse decoration, through floral designs set out in panels (as this one), then ‘all-over decoration and eventually (beyond 1700) finer patterning described as ‘seaweed’ or ‘arabesque’.The movement of this clock is typical of Windmills’ finest work with 6 latched pillars. Slightly lesser (but still excellent quality) movements were made with 5 pillars.

The dial is unusual for the period in not having a seconds subsidiary, perhaps a customer request or just to make the dial look less fussy? Another Windmills longcase recently sold at auction with the same format so not unique. Inspection of the movement shows that it was never intended to have a seconds hand, no extra ‘stub’ to the seconds arbour etc.The dial is typical of London work around the mid-1690s. The minute numbers are outside the minute ring but remain small (they would become significantly larger after 1700), the areas between the spandrels have engraved patterns, the winder holes are ringed and the date aperture similar to match. The hands are very elegant, blued steel. The maker’s name is now on the chapter ring, a development from the earlier style where it was on the dial plate.The case is a very good example of the much sought-after ‘William & Mary’ style. It is an original old case and as such has various defects. However it presents very well, I hope the pictures convey this. These cases can sometimes be over-restored and lose their patination/ character.

Antiques.co.uk Ref: 2VFWNBN8F

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Osborne Clocks

Osborne Clocks. A specialist antique longcase collector and enthusiast based in Somerset UK. Clock sales, setup and delivery service. Longcase clocks have been my interest for many years now. I specialise in rarer clock types, particularly moon dials, musical clocks etc. Please view my website for more info about longcase clocks in general.

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