Millington Adams

Artist / Maker / Factory

JOHN PYKE OF LONDON (1720-1776)

Medium / Material

Burr walnut

Dimensions

10.50inch wide   18.00inch high   7.00inch deep (26.67 cm wide  45.72 cm high  17.78 cm deep)

Description

A rare George II burr walnut bell top bracket clock John Pyke, London. The burr walnut bell top case of excellent colour and patina, with original brass carry handle to the flattened top with a rectangular convex moulding below, the top bordered by an end grain moulding around the edge. The broken arched front door with fretted sounding apertures adjacent to the arch, the sides with a circular over rectangular glazed apertures, the rectangular back door with broken arch glazed aperture bordered by fretted sounding apertures. The case has a lower end grain moulding all around and stands on rectangular walnut pad feet.

The five pillar, twin fusee movement, with re-instated verge escapement, rack striking on a bell. The broken arch dial with matted centre, date aperture, dummy pendulum and twin winding holes bordered by a silvered chapter ring and grotesque mask spandrels. A strike/silent lever is located in the 3 o’clock position, and the makers cartouche “John Pyke, London” is engraved on a silvered disk in the dial arch. The foliate backplate is profusely engraved with a scrolling arrangement of flowers and vines.
A fine early clock, retaining excellent colour and patina and being in excellent condition throughout.

John Pyke is listed in Baileys Clock Makers of the World as making after 1710 and described as both an “eminent clock & watch maker” and “That great Artist”. The case of this clock is nearly identical to and backplate very similar to that of a walnut clock by John Ellicot, London illustrated in Cezinsky and Webster Page 288 fig. 315.

Provenance

Private collection, Boston, USA

Literature

English, George II, circa 1740.

Current Condition

Excellent. The movement has been fully overhauled, minor restorations to the case, cleaning & waxing.

Status

Sold