You may have thought time was up for traditional clocks and that the digital age would eventually make them obsolete, writes Charles Hanson.
Mobile phones tell us what time it is, what day it is, the weather forecast and so much time. But I’m delighted to say time has not dented the passion to source, buy and treasure antique clocks of every type imaginable. Whether you own a longcase, grandfather, wall, school or mantle clock, interest is strong. In fact, if anything, clocks are more popular than ever.
And we’re not just seeing wily collectors keen to invest scouring our auction catalogues. Interior designers on a mission to find the rare, the quirky or unique are delving into this arena too – and buying with determination.
Clock Sales Surge in 2021
This year we’ve witnessed a resurgence of interest in antique clocks. Their quality, craftsmanship and place in history has stood the test of time. And that means now, more than ever, it’s a good time to part with antique time pieces at auction.
Noting the trend, Hansons launched its first specialist curated Clock Auction in June, 2021 led by our expert in the field, Mike Wetton. He has decades of experience valuing, collecting and selling clocks, and you can draw on his knowledge. He will be offering free clock valuations by appointment at Derbyshire’s Etwall Auction Centre on Friday, October 1, from 10am-1pm. It’s the perfect opportunity to find out if the clock just might be worth selling as we tick towards the next Clock Auction on October 27.
Mike was thrilled with the results following his first curated specialist clock sale at Hansons in June. His star lot, a French travelling alarm clock by renowned maker Antide Javier, made £6,200 – three times its top estimate. It sparked a battle between American and French bidders and a United States buyer won the day.
Javier worked from 1751 to 1835 and was known for his fine, astronomical and planetary clocks. Clockmaker to King Louis XVIII of France, he trained many French clockmakers. The alarm clock brimmed with elegance, symmetry and class.
Other continental clocks did well, in particular an Austrian Meyer of Wien timepiece which made £3,000. Novelty clocks proved particularly popular, too. They’re sought after by those aforementioned interior designers and people with an eye for the unusual.
Clocks make bold design statements in any home. For example, lot 81 a novelty clock featuring a lady holding a globe with a clock inside, made £3,600. Lot 83, a French novelty clock of a bronze angel holding a globe in one hand and a flower in the other, reached £1,500 and lot 89, a large French ormolu clock on onyx plinth featuring a Grecian Lady holding a swinging globe and urn, made £2,100.
And let’s not forget our British clocks. A Byson of Edinburgh wall regulator made a very promising £1,200, and a ship clock by Benson of London reached £850.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries Derbyshire was home to some of the country’s finest and most skilful clockmakers. Names such as Woolley, Tantum, Whitehurst, Haycock, Aston and Mawkes spring to mind.
And we can’t possibly forget Smith of Derby, clockmakers founded in 1856. John Smith (1813-1886) became an apprentice to John Whitehurst in 1827 and went on to launch his own business.
Whitehurst (1713-1788), a clock maker and scientist, began working in Derby around 1736. He created ingenious pieces of mechanism as well as clocks, thermometers, barometers and other instruments.
Though born in Congleton, Cheshire, he’s regarded as one of Derby’s sons. He was consulted in almost every undertaking in Derbyshire and neighbouring counties if skill in mechanics, pneumatics or hydraulics was required.
Meanwhile, John Smith’s company flourished during the industrial revolution. When he died in 1886, his two sons, Frank and John, took over the running of the family business. Under Frank Smith, the company were responsible for building the huge turret clock for St Paul’s Cathedral in 1893.
As well as having a rich clock-making pedigree, a Derbyshire find was one of our top-selling clock lots ever in 2018. A bracket clock from 1690 made by Thomas Tompion, sourced in Belper, made £200,000. It was a particularly fine example of Tompion’s work. He was an inventor as well as a maker of clocks of the finest quality. He developed an unrivalled reputation worldwide and his work is still admired to this day. I call him Father Time.
Mike Wetton will be offering free clock valuations at Hansons, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire, on October 1 and November 5, 10am-1pm. Stamps and musical instrument valuations are also available at Etwall on October 1, 10am-1pm. To book an appointment, or to arrange a free home visit, please email [email protected] or call 01283 733988. To contact Mike directly email: [email protected]
