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A. Fromanteel & C. Clark

A. Fromanteel & C. Clark

€29,500.00Price
Dutch longcase clock
Oak case with walnut veneer, gilt bronze and silver plated chapter ring
Signed dial
 
Netherlands, ca 1710
245 x 50 x 27.5 cm
 
provenance
Private collection Netherlands

  • A.Fromanteel & C.Clarke

    Ahasuerus Fromanteel (1607-1693) was the first of a family of Anglo-Dutch clockmakers. He settled in London in 1625. His marriage to Maria de Bruijne in 1631 produced three sons, all of whom became prominent clockmakers. They settled in 1680 on the Vijgendam in Amsterdam. With offices in London, Amsterdam and Newcastle, the Fromanteel family was the first multinational company in clocks. In the course of the eighties, the three brothers Fromanteel, Johannes, Ahasuerus II and Abraham decided to use one joint signature, namely Fromanteel without initials or place of residence.

     

    A special collaboration

    In 1694 Christopher Clarke (1668-c. 1730) married the only daughter of Ahasuerus II, Anna. After 1696, Ahasuerus II associated with his son-in-law Christopher Clarke under the name Fromanteel & Clarke. After the death of Ahasuerus II, Clarke entered into partnership in 1703 with the last surviving Fromanteel, Abraham. They used the signature Fromanteel and Clarke, without a location. Until 1722, timepieces were manufactured under the name Fromanteel.

  • About the clock

    Watch

    The movement has an anchor escapement movement en with a duration of one month. The platines are connected by five pillars. The saw striking mechanism strikes the full hours on the large bell and strikes the half hours on the small bell.

     

    Dial

    The dial with gold-plated center and silver-plated engraved bezel shows the hours in Roman and minutes in Arabic numerals. The chapter ring is flanked at the corners by gilt bronze openwork corner pieces. Below the XII is a second ring and below that in the center an alarm clock disc. Above the VI is a date indication. The signature is engraved between V and VII: Fromanteel & Clarke.

     

    Closet

    The oak cabinet is completely veneered with walnut veneer, and stands on four flattened ball feet surmounted by a concave plinth which supports the straight base cabinet. Above the pendulum cupboard with a straight door that has an oval pendulum window in the centre. The dial is flanked on both sides by columns, which gives the impression that the frieze above the dial is only supported by the columns. The frieze is topped by a cap which is decorated with three turned gilded wooden knobs.

     

    Literature

    Enrico Morpurgo, Dutch clockmakers and watchmakers from 1300, 1970, p. 44

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