A rare Long case clock with Dutch marqueterie late 17th

James Markwick

WoodWalnut
208 ⨯ 45 ⨯ 24 cm
Currently unavailable via Gallerease

• About the artwork
  A rare late 17th century walnut and marquetry inlaid longcase clock of one month duration and with twelve inch dial. The rising hood with overhanging cornice over an inlaid entablature supported on tapering spirally twisted columns with full inlay around the hood door. The long door inlaid with flowers, birds and an urn of foliage, all on a matching base. The 12 inch square brass dial with cruciform half hour markers subsidiary seconds and calendar aperture to the matted centre, the gilt cherub and foliage spandrels on a silvered ground, signed low “Markwick Londini” on the silvered Roman chapter ring.
  
  James Markwick became Free of the Clockmakers' Company in 1692 and died in 1730. His father's business succeeded that of Samuel Betts, one of the great early clockmaking. He later went into business with his son-in-law, Robert Markham and was very highly regarded in the London market and, more latterly, gained an excellent reputation in the Ottoman Empire. Markwick was Master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers.
  
  Marquetry (also spelled as marqueterie) is the art and craft of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns, designs or pictures. The veneers used are primarily woods. Many exotic woods as well as common European varieties can be employed. Techniques of wood marquetry were developed in Antwerp and other Flemish centers of luxury cabinet-making during the early 16th century. Marquetry was introduced into London furniture at the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, the product of immigrant Dutch 'inlayers', whose craft traditions owed a lot to Antwerp. Panels of elaborately scrolling "seaweed" marquetry of box or holly contrasting with walnut appeared on table tops, cabinets, and long-case clocks.
  
  Dimensions: Height 208 cm (height with rising hood 235 cm) x Width 45 cm x Depth 24 cm
  
• About the artist
  James Markwick became Free of the Clockmakers' Company in 1692 and died in 1730. His father's business succeeded that of Samuel Betts, one of the great early clockmaking. He later went into business with his son-in-law, Robert Markham and was very highly regarded in the London market and, more latterly, gained an excellent reputation in the Ottoman Empire. Markwick was Master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers.