Christopher Goddard of London Longcase Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1760
This longcase clock is attributed to Christopher Goddard of London and dates to circa 1760. It features a weight-driven, eight-day movement with five pillars, an anchor escapement, and a rack striking mechanism that sounds the full hours on a bell.
The clock retains its original lead weights and pendulum. The 12-inch brass dial incorporates a silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals, an outer minute ring, a seconds ring, and a date aperture. The dial is decorated with brass spandrels and includes blued steel hands. The clock is housed in a heavily carved ebonised case, standing 220cm tall. The hood is topped with a break arch featuring a carved green man in the center, flanked by brass-capped columns and topped with two original sphere finials.
The case continues with extensive carving on the trunk and base.
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 1760
- Type
- Longcase clock
- Maker
- Christopher Goddard
- Striking
- rack strike
- Dial size
- 12 inch
- Dimensions
- Height 220cm, Width 54cm, Depth 24cm
- Escapement
- anchor escapement
- Case features
- Heavily carved ebonised wood with green man motif
- Movement type
- 5 pillar 8 day key wound weight driven
- Place recorded
- London, England
- Maker / attribution
- Christopher Goddard
Design
- Dial and Hands
- The clock features a 12-inch brass dial that serves as the visual focus for timekeeping. It includes a silvered chapter ring marked with Roman numerals for the hours and an outer ring for the minutes. A silvered seconds ring and a date aperture are integrated into the layout. The dial is accented by brass spandrels at the corners and equipped with blued steel hands.
- Visible features
- • Carved green man motif on the hood arch • Brass sphere finials mounted on the hood • Silvered date aperture visible on the dial • Heavily carved case surface
- Case Construction
- The clock is housed in a heavily carved ebonised case measuring 220cm in height. The hood design features a break arch with a central carved green man and incorporates brass-capped columns on either side. Two original sphere finials are mounted atop the hood. The remainder of the longcase follows the aesthetic of the hood with substantial wood carvings visible on both the trunk and the base, contributing to its overall presence.
- Movement and Function
- The timekeeping is powered by a weight-driven, eight-day movement. It is constructed with five pillars for structural support and utilizes an anchor escapement to regulate the time. The striking mechanism is a rack strike system that indicates the full hours by ringing a bell. The clock retains its original lead weights and pendulum, components essential to the original operation of the movement.
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: The exact provenance is not provided.
- Research required: The source refers to the object as 'circa 1760' without providing archival documentation for this dating.