George III chinoiserie quarter-chiming longcase clock by John Monkhouse

London

An extremely fine and imposing George III chinoiserie decorated longcase clock. It has a pagoda top with giltwood spire finials and elaborately pierced sound frets. The hood is profusely decorated in green and gold lacquer depicting flowers and foliate decoration.

The matted brass dial with a silvered chapter ring and pierced hands, signed John Monkhouse London, has a date aperture, and a seconds dial. Above is an arched top with a background of gold stars on a blue ground, and a revolving moon. There are two subsidiary dials depicting 'hours-strike' and 'quarters strike'.The case is beautifully decorated, mirroring the hood.The arch trunk door depicting raised scenes in the colourful chinoiserie taste, including exotic birds and flowers, landscape views, architectual studies and boats. All this decoration is on a green ground with a selection of polychrome colours.

The clock has a three train weight driven movement with anchor escapement and seconds beating brass bob pendulum. The movement strikes the hours on a bell and additionally sounds each quarter hour on a gallery of six bells.

Lacquer

1765

John Monkhouse is recorded as working in London Between 1756 to 1771; he was known for his musical clocks.


See 'Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World' by Brian Loomes, page 546

The Three Georges: Clockmaking in Hanoverian England 1714 - 1820 (2014)

Excellent

Date: circa 1765
Height: 109.00inch (277 cm)