A good late 17th century marquetry-cased 8-day brass dial longcase clock.Francis Berry, Hitchin,...

A good late 17th century marquetry-cased 8-day brass dial longcase clock.

Francis Berry, Hitchin, circa 1690.
The 11-inch square brass dial having a silvered chapter ring with Roman hours and Arabic minutes plus inner quarter hour track and half hour divisions, signed "Fran Berry Hitchin", framing a foliage-engraved centre with ringed winding arbors and terrestrial calendar within mask and scroll spandrels, the knopped and finned four-pillar movement countwheel-striking on a bell, the case with moulded flat hood, pierced fretwork friezes and sunken columns framing Dutch-style marquetry inlay, over matching profusely-inlaid long trunk door with oval lenticle, and a matching base with plinth, 81", (206cm) high (sold with two weights, pendulum, two keys and winder)
Provenance: Private collection, purchased Phillips Knowle, 14th September 1994, lot 645 where stated "Sold by direction of a beneficiary of the late Miss Sheila Coupar Barrie, Orchard Farm, Broadway", with copy receipt.