Longcase clock
William Mountfort (1664-1692)
Category
Horology
Date
1770
Materials
Oak, pine, japanning, steel, brass, painted iron and glass
Measurements
2240 x 550 x 265 mm
Place of origin
Lichfield
Order this imageCollection
Wightwick Manor, West Midlands (Accredited Museum)
NT 1288489
Summary
Eight day English longcase clock in japanned oak case, movement by John Mountford, Lichfield, c.1760/1820 Two train, four pillar movement with anchor escapement and rack hour-striking on bell. Black-painted brass-cased lead weights. 14” white-painted break-arch dial with cast-iron false plate. Moon phase and lunar calendar in the arch, the moon disc painted with a river scene with waterwheel and a ship at sea. Painted spandrel decoration depicting the four seasons, and detailed globe maps below the moon-phase indication. Arabic numerals and quarters and with seconds and calendar dials in the dial centre which is signed: “Jno. Mountford Lichfield”. Brass collars to the winding holes. Blued-steel pierced-diamond hands. Dark green (now virtually black) japanned oak case with break-arch hood with japanned columns and glazing to the sides. Break-arch trunk door with two applied paper prints, varnished over, both depicting three musicians, the upper with a flautist, mandolin player and violinist, the lower with keyboard, cellist and violinist. Rectangular base with low skirting. Note: The movement and dial, made c.1820, has been fitted (rather imperfectly, being slightly too large) to this earlier case. The case is possibly of East Anglian origin, c.1760. Inside the case is a label for an antiques dealer T. Clarkson of Snowhill, Wolverhampton.
Marks and inscriptions
Jnr Mountford, Lichfield (painted)
Makers and roles
William Mountfort (1664-1692)