Page 34 - Demo

PROVENANCE
Sotheby’s London, 19th November 2000, lot 334, sold for £118,000
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
R.A. Lee, The Knibb Family Clockmakers, Byfleet, 1964, pp.84-93. Alan Lloyd, The Collectors’ Dictionary of Clocks, 1964, p.74.
DUTCH STRIKE
Dutch striking is a form of dual striking where the hours are struck on a big bell and at the half hours the hour is repeated on a smaller, higher-toned bell. This method of striking is only possible with a locking plate or countwheel, which is notched in duplicate, so that the locking arm will allow a repetition of each number of blows. Dutch striking is not often found on English clocks and Knibb was one of the few makers who experimented with it. By the end of the 17th century countwheel strike had been dropped in favour of the more reliable rack strike.
PHASE I CLOCKS
The Phase I table clock was only made by Joseph Knibb during his first few formative years in his London workshops circa 1670-1678.
These Phase I clocks all share the same case style, but mechanically can be quite different. Perhaps only as few as twenty known examples exist, their cases are ebony veneered on an oak carcass, however there are thought to be four extant examples veneered in walnut and two in olivewood. Phase I clocks are distinguished by their larger proportions with shallow caddy tops, severe crank handle and gilt-brass bun feet. The caddy is often applied with a winged cherub mount – though not in this instance. There is a substantial flat surround to the caddy top above the cornice – a feature peculiar to Knibb’s cases.
34