GABRIL HOLLAND, Coventry c1730
Description:
A magnificent and well preserved George II tavern clock of the earliest design.
The case with elongated dial and deeply moulded surround. The trunk with a short door and deeply contoured base.
The gilt chapter ring is written in roman numerals with double minutes circle and outside five minutes with leafy scrolls to the bottom corners. The elegantly written signature beneath the chapter ring fills the full width of the dial, typical of the early tavern clocks. The chinoiserie decoration to the trunk door illustrates an oriental scene of figures before a pavilion against a wooded background. To the sides are exotic birds perched on a leafy branch.
The eight day duration timepiece movement with anchor escapement is in original condition.
Little is known about Gabril Holland other than he is recorded as working c1740 and the records of the Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry reveal that Gabril was appointed a Quaker trustee in 1749. Early tavern clocks of this design are extremely rare and in the definitive book ‘English Dial Clocks’ by R Rose, only one comparable example by Abraham Perinot of London, exists. In our opinion, this clock is one of the earliest tavern clocks in existence and would date from no later than c1730.
Height: 62 in (158 cm)
Width: 31 in (78 cm)
Clockmaker: GABRIL HOLLAND, Coventry
Circa: 1730
Stock Number: 3966
Height: 62 inches (158 cm.)