More than 500 lots shine bright in Hansons’ March 30 Fine Art Auction and among them are some fine horological items, one created by that rare thing in the 18th century world of clockmaking – a woman.
Here, Hansons’ clocks consultant Mike Wetton picks out some of his favourite items.
Timepiece with elegant past
He said: “It’s hard to choose from so many outstanding lots but I have settled on two starting with a late 17th century lantern clock inscribed ‘Harford of Bath’.
“It has an interesting provenance. It once kept time in Bath’s Elton House, Bath, an historical Georgian building built around 1700. It is now a property of the Landmark Trust and can be rented for holidays. There is also a museum inside the house that displays artefacts owned by previous owner Miss Philippa Savery.
“Her lodger was retired Navy surgeon Doc Smith, known locally as ‘the Doc’. He died in the late 1970s and his possessions passed to Miss Savery. When she died the clock passed to the vendor’s family.
“The maker of the clock is also interesting. Two John Hartfords are listed as father and son (see Lantern clocks and their makers by Brian Loomes page 466). John Harford/Hartford senior was working in Bath towards the end of the 17th century.
Lot 500 | Harford of Bath clock | £4000 to £6000
Centuries-old sun dial shines bright
“My second choice is lot 263, a rare sun dial by the famous Whitehurst of Derby dated 1805,” says Mike. “It has emerged from the gardens at Barton Hall, Barton Blount in Derbyshire. Such examples rarely come to the market. The majority were made for fine houses owned by the wealthy elite in the 17th to 19th centuries. This is a splendid opportunity for a collector or, perhaps, a garden designers. Their client would have a lovely historical object to talk about.”
Lot 263 | Sun dial by Whithurst of Derby | £800 to £1200
Lady clockmaker’s timepiece
Woman artisans were extremely rare in the 18th century world of clockmaking but there were a a few and one of them was Elizabeth Boot of Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. She made a magnificent longcase clock, above, in the March 30 sale and it’s a shining example of quality.
Her 30-hour long case clock with 12in brass dial has an oak case with long trunk door The hood has applied turned columns and walnut veneer to the panel above the hood door.
The Boot family were clockmakers in Sutton in Ashfield from 1725-1792. Elizabeth Boot made clocks from 1740 to 1780.
The sale also includes a handsome timepiece with a 10in dial made by Elizabeth’s son, John Boot junior. Both items have been sourced from a private collector.
Further clock entries include a Mullenex, a Brookhouse of Derby and Bower of Chesterfield.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MARCH 30 FINE ART CATALOGUE
Clocks invited for auction
To book a free clock, barometer or sun dial valuation, or to discuss selling an entire collection, please contact Mike Wetton: [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
