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a clock that is sitting on a tablea black clock with gold trim and roman numerals on the facea black and gold clock with a mirror in the background
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446 - John WRIGHT (17th–18th centuries), a member of the Clockmake…
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Estimate €2,000 - €3,000
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Description
John WRIGHT (17th–18th centuries), a member of the Clockmakers’ Company – active around 1700. A ‘bracket clock’ with a complication mechanism. The ring-shaped dial, made of engraved and nielloed pewter, features Roman numerals for the hours alternating with fleurs-de-lis, a railway-track minute track and Arabic numerals for the minutes. A date display system showing the days in Arabic numerals, in full text and with their allegorical representations, finely engraved in intaglio, within three rotating pewter cartouches. The dial is signed by the clockmaker ‘John WRIGHT’ on a cartouche and is located in London. An exceptional striking mechanism with eight bells and eight hammers, featuring on-demand striking. The bronze and brass case back, finely chiselled witharabesques and interlaced foliage, whilst the movement’s rear plate is engraved with an exceptional design, reworked in intaglio, featuring richly foliated scrolls and an antique-style bust flanked by two eagles. The architecturally shaped case, glazed on all sides, is made of moulded, carved and openwork ebony, with red fabric spandrels imitating red tortoiseshell. The top is crowned with four pine cones and a handle. England, c. 1720. Height: 48 cm Width: 26.5 cm Depth: 18 cm Our planetarium clock (in the traditional sense of a system associating the days of the week with the seven celestial bodies or planetary deities) displays, respectively: Monday — Moon: goddess of the night and of cycles. Tuesday — Mars: god of war and strength. Wednesday — Mercury: god of trade and messengers. Thursday — Jupiter: king of the gods, lord of the heavens and of thunder. Friday — Venus: goddess of love and beauty. Saturday — Saturn: god of time and agriculture. Sunday — Sun: personification of the sun, symbol of light and power. Note: John Wright was a London clockmaker active in the early 18th century; he was probably admitted as a member of the Clockmakers’ Company around 1700 and is mentioned again in 1714. He belonged to the generation that carried on the tradition of excellence in London clockmaking following Tompion, Quare and Windmills. His name, inscribed on the dial of our clock around 1720, bears witness to the high quality of his work, characteristic of the golden age of English clockmaking.
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About the sale PRESTIGE - CLASSICAL CENTURIES - VAYRES CASTLE
Auction location
Auction time 10/18/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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