Lot 145

Joseph Knibb

Phase III

An early, small Charles II bracket clock of museum quality, with hour strike, pull quarter repeater and date from the 3rd creative phase of Joseph Knibb

Sold

The clock looks to be fine, and in a condition where it has not been through the trade for a long time. Timepiece only clocks by Knibb are rare. There are a few known with verge escapement, a number with repeating or alarm and only a few with Tic-Tac escapement.

In his book "Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World", Baillie calls Joseph Knibb (1640-1711) "one of the finest makers of lantern, longcase and bracket clocks"; Knibb was born in 1640 in Oxford and did his apprenticeship with his cousin Samuel Knibb in Newport Pagnell. Around 1670 he moved to London and became a member of the Clockmakers‘ Company. A supplier to the court of King Charles II, Knibb established himself as one of the leading clockmakers in London, alongside with Thomas Tompion. His table clocks and longcase clocks regularly achieve highest prices at auctions worldwide.