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Table or bracket clock

Clockmaker: Thomas Tompion British
ca. 1696
Not on view
This portable clock has a repeating mechanism allowing it to strike on the quarter hour and hour, a valuable feature in darkness. Except for special commissions, the cases of Tompion table clocks tended to be rather sober. Where ebony was used, the clockmaker relied on the pleasing effect of the plain black surface to contrast with the gold and silver of the dial and applied hardware (the vase-shaped finials were added by a later owner).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Table or bracket clock
  • Maker: Clockmaker: Thomas Tompion (British, 1639–1713)
  • Date: ca. 1696
  • Culture: British, London
  • Medium: Case: ebony veneered on oak with gilded- and silvered-brass fittings; Movement: brass and steel
  • Dimensions: Overall: 16 1/4 × 10 1/2 × 7 in. (41.3 × 26.7 × 17.8 cm)
  • Classification: Horology
  • Credit Line: Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964
  • Object Number: 64.101.867
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Table or bracket clock with calendar, Daniel Delander British, Case: walnut, oak veneered with walnut and burl walnut; stained wooden moldings; and brass fittings; Dial: gilded and silvered brass; Movement: brass and steel, British, London
Table or bracket clock with calendar
Daniel Delander
probably ca. 1720
Repeater watch and case, Thomas Tompion British, Gilt metal, enamel; tortoiseshell, silver, British, London
Repeater watch and case
Thomas Tompion
John Northcott
before 1682
Pair-case watch, Thomas Tompion British, Outer case: red tortoiseshell with silver inlay; Inner case and champlevé dial: silver, British, London
Pair-case watch
Thomas Tompion
Nathanial Delander I
1685–86
Pair-case watch, Thomas Tompion British, Silver, British, London
Pair-case watch
Thomas Tompion
possibly ca. 1695, but more probably 19th century forgery
Longcase clock with calendrical, lunar, and tidal indications, also known as the Graves Tompion, Thomas Tompion British, Case: oak veneered with walnut, panels of oystershell-cut olive wood; marquetry panels of green-stained bone, ivory, various woods; mounts: gilded brass; dial: gilded and silvered brass; movement: brass, steel, British, London
Longcase clock with calendrical, lunar, and tidal indications, also known as the Graves Tompion
Thomas Tompion
Jasper Braem
ca. 1677–80

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