Marquetry Longcase Clock by Richard Baker
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1690
This longcase clock, attributed to London-based maker Richard Baker, dates to approximately 1690. The timepiece features an eight-day movement with an anchor escapement and five knopped pillars, with count-wheel striking positioned on the outside of the back plate.
The clock is housed in a walnut veneer case decorated with bird and flower marquetry inlay, featuring barley twist columns on the hood and a glazed pendulum lenticle on the trunk door. The square 10 1/4-inch brass dial incorporates a matted center with an engraved English Rose, a date aperture, and a seconds subsidiary dial. The maker's signature, "Richard Baker Londini," is engraved beneath the silvered chapter ring.
The total height of the clock is 79 1/2 inches (202 cm).
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 1690
- Type
- Longcase clock
- Maker
- Richard Baker
- Height
- 79 1/2 inches (202 cm)
- Dial size
- 10 1/4 inches
- Escapement
- Anchor
- Place recorded
- London
- Movement duration
- 8-day
- Maker / attribution
- Richard Baker
- Movement configuration
- 5 knopped pillars
Design
- Visible features
- • Barley twist columns to the hood • Bird and flower marquetry on the trunk and base • Seconds subsidiary dial positioned below the XII marker • Glazed lenticle on the trunk door
- Dial and Timekeeping
- The clock features a square brass dial measuring 10 1/4 inches. The layout includes a silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals and a seconds subsidiary dial located beneath the twelve o'clock position. The center of the dial is finely matted and decorated with an engraved English Rose motif, complemented by a date aperture. The movement is an eight-day mechanism utilizing five knopped pillars and an anchor escapement. The striking train is governed by a count wheel, which is mounted on the outside of the back plate for access and identification.
- Maker and Attribution
- The clock is signed by Richard Baker, a London clockmaker documented as achieving his freedom within the Clockmakers' Company in 1685. The attribution to Richard Baker is supported by the signature "Richard Baker Londini" found engraved on the dial.
- Case Construction and Marquetry
- The external surfaces of the trunk and base display a recurring motif of birds and flowers. The hood is constructed with barley twist columns and topped with a decorative pediment. The trunk door features a centrally placed circular lenticle, which provides a view of the pendulum bob within the case. The overall dimensions of the piece reach a height of approximately 202 cm.
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: Condition of the internal movement is not detailed beyond the general description of its configuration
- Research required: The exact extent of restoration work is subject to future assessment by a specialist