AFA Summer 2020

2020 Antiques & Fine Art 89 Tall case clock, Thomas Tompion, London, England, ca. 1700. Walnut, oak, gilt bronze, brass, steel, and glass. Museum Purchase (1956-436). Tall case clocks combined the work of the clockmaker and the cabinetmaker, but the mechanism (or movement) was the most costly and important part of the assemblage. Thomas Tompion (1639–1713), among the greatest clockmakers of his day, produced this exceptional movement for King William III. A remarkably sophisticated timepiece, it runs for three months (rather than the standard eight days) on a single winding and has a perpetual calendar mechanism that automatically adjusts for leap year. The unknown cabinetmaker crafted an extraordinarily fashionable case to augment these technological advancements and highlight the position of the monarch. The artisan chose ornamental burl walnut veneers and ostentatious gilt bronze mounts, including a figure of Minerva. The result is one of the finest European clocks ever made.