Thomas Manning Yarmouth. Circa 1730, walnut, moon-phases with silvered moon.
A very impressive George II 8-day, walnut-cased longcase clock, the dial showing “Manning, Yarmouth” to the arch. Moon-phases with silvered moon, the moon’s age showing in a small recess inside the seconds ring. The movement of fine quality with 5-pillar construction.
The clock is fully working (including moon and date), the movement has been cleaned and serviced.
I have tried to find reference to a maker “Thomas Manning, Yarmouth” in the usual sources but nothing so far… There is the possibility that Thomas Manning was the original owner, you sometimes see this. Whoever made the movement, it is of fine construction, much in the London style, 5 pillars etc. The dial features can be used to date the clock, I would say not before 1725 and not later than 1740, 1730 seems about right.
Moon-phase clocks went through various different fashions as the 18th century progressed. ‘Penny’ moons are earliest, then came larger moon-disks with engraved, silvered, faces and silvered stars (as this one). Later came painted faces/ stars and after this painted moons with painted scenes in between. The moon disk on this clock is unusual as the ‘moon’s age’ is shown in a cut out inside the seconds ring .The disk is therefore engraved all around the outside with this calibration which is not visible apart from in the small aperture. It seems a minor point but I do really like this feature.
The dial has half-hour markers and inner ‘hour’ calibration, both earlier features. The dial centre is finely matted with engraved patterning around the date aperture and birds to the upperpart. The winders are ringed, again an earlier feature. The hemispheres (below the moon-disk) show finely engraved detailing, the left one a sun-face and the right a hemisphere globe.
The walnut case has excellent proportions and an excellent walnut colour. Polish is good, inevitably it has picked up a few marks and knocks during its long life. Some very nice inlaid detail around the top of the arched hood.
The clock is complete with weights, brass-faced pendulum, winder and trunk door key (working lock). There is a lock still in the hood but no key.
Dimensions are: height 93.5 inches, width 22 inches (max), depth 10 inches.