Queen Anne red japanned tortoiseshell longcase clock by "Benjamin Broadhead, London"

A fine Queen Anne red Japanned, tortoiseshell longcase clock by Benjamin Broadhead, London. The hood with inverted bell shaped pagoda with fretwork sounding apertures, tapering columns bordering a decorated door frame. The trunk door decorated with classical chinoiserie of Chinese figures, buildings and flowers, with lenticle over a decorated plinth base. The movement with five finned pillars, internally rack striking the hours on a bell. The dial with periodically characteristic shallow arch with strike/silent selector with an engraved terrifying "green man" background. A silvered chapter ring is bordered by grotesque mask spandrels, with a second hand and date aperture. The matted dial centre with a rare floral engraved central makers cartouche signed "B. Broadhead, Londini Fecit" which is flanked by twin winding holes. The engraving to the dial is strikingly similar to that of a clock by Jonathan Puller in the Weatherfield collection. A superb and elegant clock having great stature and presence.

Benjamin Broadhead was apprenticed to William Speakman in1702 and free of the clockmakers company in 1709. The son of a gentleman born in Hoborn, Middlesex. It was very unusual for a gentleman's son to take on a trade, in fact Broadhead may have reverted to being a gentleman on the death of his father, this possibly the reason for the rarity of his clocks. His former employer William Speakman became master of the clockmakers company in 1701.

Circa 1710

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This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Condition report

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