A rare and important 18th century George II period mahogany longcase clock, the movement by Richard Peckover

Provenance

RICHARD PECKOVER, LONDON
A quite exceptional mahogany George II period longcase clock by this highly esteemed maker.
The highest quality case is very interesting as it shows a very early use of mahogany and is constructed in the manner of the walnut cases of the period. The finest mahogany veneers have been laid onto the well proportioned oak carcase and they have taken on a beautiful mellow colour after more than two hundred and fifty years. The case stands on an original plinth, the trunk and base panels are crossbanded and all the mouldings are crossgrain. The opening door of the hood is flanked by turned and stop-fluted mahogany pillars with brass capitals and it retains its original pagoda top and carved mahogany sound frets.
At the top of the trunk there is the very rare feature of a barometer set into the door. The latter is supported by high quality lift off stop hinges to make it easier to remove when transporting the delicate barometer. The matted dial centre of the barometer has a silvered brass surround and finely wrought steel hands by the same man who made the clock pointers.
The l2inch arched dial has an applied chapter ring with foliate corner spandrels and the centre is finely matted with an applied seconds ring and an aperture to view the day of the month. The maker’s signature is engraved on the chapter ring between V and VII.
The five pillar movement has rack strike striking and the hours are sounded on a bell.
Date: Circa: 1750
*Richard Peckover is regarded as a highly important maker and he is thought to have taken over Quare and Horseman’s business in Exchange Alley following Stephen Horseman’s bankruptcy in 1733. Peckover’s watch numbering ran on from those of Quare and Horseman and there are watches sold by Peckover known from Number 6480 to 7377. There are many close similarities between this clock and three well known longcase clocks made by John Ellicott which also have a barometer set into the trunk door
See Nicholas Goodison English Barometers 1680-1860 (pub 1997) plates 86,87,88,89 and R.W. Symonds Furniture Making in Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century England, (pub. 1955), Figures 316 and 318. The latter Ellicott longcase has a near identical hour hand and barometer hand. All the above Ellicotts also have the same high quality lift off stop hinges to their trunk doors as those on the Peckover. A later re-cased burr walnut longcase clock (c.1730), the movement by Thomas Tompion (c.1680). also has a barometer to the door. See in addition an article by H. Alan Lloyd, Horology and Meteorology (pub Société de Chronometrie). All the above barometers appear to be by the same maker.

Literature

‘English Barometers 1680-1860’ by Nicholas Goodison, plates 86, 87, 88 & 89.
‘Furniture Making in 17th and 18th Century England’ by R.W. Symonds, figs. 316 & 318.

Description / Expertise

The mahogany case of outstanding quality with a very rare barometer set into the door. The 12 inch arched dial with an applied chapter ring with elaborate gilt metal foliate corner spandrels and the centre is finely matted with an applied seconds ring and an aperture with the day of the month. The maker’s signature, Richard Peckover, London, is engraved on the chapter ring between V and VII. The five pillar movement has rack-strike striking and the hours are sounded on a bell. The opening door of the hood is flanked by turned, fluted and stop-fluted columns with brass capitals surmounted by its original pagoda top and gilt brass finals (one replaced). The rare barometer fitted into the door with fine lift-off hinges to facilitate moving the delicate barometer. The finely matted dial has a silvered brass surround with finely wrought steel hands executed by the same craftsman who made the clock pointers.

RICHARD PECKOVER: A highly regarded and important clockmaker who is thought to have taken over Quare and Horseman’s business in Exchange Alley in 1733