Burr Walnut 8-Day Longcase Clock by Joseph Windmills
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1695
This 8-day longcase clock is attributed to the maker Joseph Windmills of London, dated circa 1695. The movement is weight-driven with an anchor escapement, six latched knopped pillars, and an inside count-wheel striking system.
It is secured to the case via a bracket on the backboard. The dial is a 10 ¾-inch square brass plate with winged cherub head spandrels, a silvered chapter ring, a matted center, a subsidiary seconds dial, and a date aperture. The oak case features figured burr walnut veneers, with the trunk door containing a gilt brass lenticle. The hood is topped with a cross-grain walnut cornice moulding and a sound fret, flanked by barley-twist columns with wooden capitals and bases.
The sides of the trunk are panelled with book-matched and crossbanded veneers. The piece is approximately 206 cm tall.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- circa 1695
- Type
- Longcase clock
- Maker
- Joseph Windmills
- Height
- 206 cm
- Dial size
- 10 3/4 inch square
- Escapement
- Anchor escapement
- Place recorded
- England
- Striking system
- Inside count-wheel
- Case construction
- Oak veneered in burr walnut
- Movement duration
- 8-day
- Maker / attribution
- Joseph Windmills
Design
- Maker History
- Joseph Windmills was an active clockmaker during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He achieved freedom of the Clockmakers Company in July 1671 and established himself in St Martin le Grand before relocating to Mark Lane End, Tower Street, in 1687. Throughout his career, Windmills held significant positions within the Clockmakers Company, serving as Warden in 1699 and as Master in 1702, succeeding Thomas Tompion. He is recognized for his association with prominent contemporaries like Tompion during this era.
- Visible features
- • Barley-twist columns on the hood • Gilt brass lenticle in the trunk door • Winged cherub head spandrels on the dial • Sound fret below the cornice moulding
- Case Construction
- The clock is housed in an oak case finished with figured burr walnut veneers. The trunk door is fitted with a gilt brass lenticle, allowing a view of the pendulum. The trunk sides are constructed with book-matched veneers and full crossbanding. The hood features a walnut-veneered structure with a cross-grain cornice and a delicate sound fret. It is flanked by barley-twist columns that include wooden capitals and bases, contrasting with the overall walnut veneering of the carcass.
- Movement and Dial Details
- The clock is powered by an eight-day duration weight-driven movement. It incorporates six latched knopped pillars and utilizes an anchor escapement. The striking mechanism is an inside count-wheel system, which sounds the hours on a bell. The movement is fixed to the case using a specific bracket mounted on the backboard. The 10 ¾-inch square brass dial displays a matted center with a subsidiary seconds hand and a ringed date aperture. The chapter ring features silvered Roman and Arabic numerals, with the signature “J Windmills – London” positioned on either side of the VI numeral. The corners of the dial are embellished with winged cherub head spandrels, bordered by foliate engraving.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Movement internal components not visible in photographs
- Research required: Historical provenance limited to unspecified private collection