Edward East walnut longcase clock

A third quarter of the 17th century quarter striking walnut longcase clock Edward East, London The case with a flat top surmounted by a pierced sound fret over a moulded top supported by turned and twisted columns, over a convex throat moulding.

The sides fitted with observation windows, the long trunk door with later brass escutcheon and large circular lenticle, above a moulded base and further raised on a shallow plinth. The 10 inch brass dial with slender and finely executed silvered chapter ring, bearing black wax-filled Roman numerals intercepted by fleur-de-lys half-hour markers and outer Arabic five-minute divisions. The dial centre richly engraved with typical East tulip and still life motifs, the upper section with subsidiary seconds dial beneath a calendar aperture, all framed by finely engraved floral spandrels.

Signed above XII Eduardus East Londini. The substantial three-train movement with eleven latched, turned knopped pillars and split plates, the clock striking the quarters via an external countwheel on a nest of six bells and hammers mounted above, and the hours struck separately via a further countwheel on a large bell also mounted above. The escapement a modified to anchor.