James Drury London Walnut Longcase Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1730
This eight-day longcase clock is attributed to the maker James Drury of London, dated circa 1730. The case is constructed with walnut veneer, featuring a break-arch hood topped with a caddy and brass ball finials, and a trunk with a cross-banded door standing on a staggered double plinth.
The movement is weight-driven with an anchor escapement and strikes the hours on a bell using a rack and snail system. The brass break-arch dial includes a matted centre, applied silvered chapters with Roman numerals, and a calendar aperture. A regulation dial in the arch features a silvered chapter ring and a steel hand. The dial is signed "James Drury London" on a cartouche below the twelve-hour mark and includes applied brass spandrels.
The clock measures 244 cm in height. Provenance is listed as a private collection in the U.K.
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 1730
- Type
- Longcase clock
- Maker
- James Drury
- Height
- 244 cm
- Escapement
- Anchor
- Provenance
- Private collection, UK
- Signatures
- James Drury London
- Movement Type
- Eight-day striking
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Maker / attribution
- James Drury
Design
- Visible features
- • Large brass ball finials surmounting the caddy top • Regulating dial located in the break-arch with star-shaped aperture detail • Blued steel hands • Matched cross-banded base
- Case Construction
- The clock is housed in a walnut-veneered case that features a caddy-top break-arch hood. This hood is ornamented with large brass ball finials and sound frets situated below the arch. The glazed door of the hood is flanked by walnut pillars fitted with brass Doric capitals and bases. The trunk of the clock is designed with a cross-banded break-arch door. The base section matches this cross-banded detail and the entire structure rests on a staggered double plinth. The primary material noted throughout the exterior is figured walnut veneer.
- Dial and Regulation
- The dial is a break-arch brass design with a matted center and applied silvered engraved chapters. The primary chapter ring displays Roman numerals and Arabic five-minute markings. A silvered calendar aperture is present, and the signature 'James Drury London' is engraved on a plain cartouche positioned below the numeral twelve. A regulation mechanism is integrated into the arch of the dial, which utilizes an engraved silvered chapter ring and a steel hand. This feature adjusts the clock via a cam located on the back of the dial. The dial plate includes a star-shaped cutout and applied brass spandrels, accompanied by a pair of blued steel hands.
- Movement and Functionality
- The movement is a weight-driven, two-train mechanism designed to function for eight days. It incorporates an anchor escapement and utilizes a seconds pendulum. The clock provides an hourly strike, which is achieved through a rack and snail striking system acting upon a single bell. The maker, James Drury, is identified as a member of the Clockmakers Company, with his membership noted as occurring in 1728. The clock's mechanical configuration is described as consistent with early 18th-century production standards for longcase timepieces.
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: Date is provided as an approximate circa date
- Research required: Regulation feature is described as reminiscent of Daniel Quare, not confirmed as his work