Excellent early 18th Century walnut Longcase Clock by Berry of London

An excellent early 18th century London longcase clock with high quality burr walnut veneer.

The 8 day duration 5 pillar movement sounding the hours on a bell with the rack striking method and a recoil anchor escapement.  The full brass dial with a separate silvered brass chapter ring, finely matted centre, seconds, date and the makers name and place of work to the arch.  The arch also with matching Dolphin spandrels and extremely fine engraving around the silvered brass roundel. Also with well cut blued steel hands.  

The walnut veneered case with high quality burr walnut to both the trunk door and base panel. Also with typical cross-grained mouldings and cross-banded veneer throughout the case. The base with a plain double plinth.  The hood with plain walnut pillars, brass Doric capitals to the top and bottom and also with quarter pillars to the rear of the hood and glass panels to the sides.  The flat top has well cut blind sound frets to the front of the hood. An excellent example.

Note: Born in 1670, John Berry was apprenticed to the eminent maker John Ebsworth in August 1684 and was Free in April 1692.  He is known to have worked at the Dial in St. Clements Lane, Lombard Street.  He was Assistant to the Clockmakers Company in 1717, Warden in 1720 and Master in 1723. The cabinet work of this clock has features that point towards the Tompion and Quare workshops at this period.  Such as the lack of a lenticle to the trunk door, the slim case and the design of the blind fretwork.