An Exceptional Burr Walnut Longcase Clock with original numbered winder, signed George Graham, London, No.772, circa 1740, is to be sold at Tennants on 20-21 July 2006.  The richly figured case with caddy top above a frieze fret, gilt-brass capped three-quarter columns to the hood, pierced wood frets to the sides, the trunk door with moulded borders, interior trunk top left hand side upright with inscription written in ink reading "June ye 9 1741", interior top of the trunk door with a faded inscription reading "set by ye church dial Jun ye 1st 1768", the trunk sides divided into panels with ebony and box wood stringing, the plinth with stepped base and upon 'later' pad feet, the backboard with a movement securing bracket, 12-inch latched square brass dial signed "Geo: Graham, London" along lower edge, finely matted dial centre with subsidiary seconds, calendar aperture with pin-hole setting, double screwed mask and leaf spandrels, the five pillar latched movement with deadbeat escapement, bolt and shutter maintaining power, rack striking on a bell, long crutch screwed to the pallet arbor, the back plate with supporting bracket and punch numbered "772" at the base, pendulum with brass rod and a massive bob, two brass cased weights and the original crank winding handle numbered "772", 238cm high.

This clock is to be sold with the receipt of purchase dated August 23rd 1960. The present owner bought the clock from 'Jackson & Son' in Sedbergh, Yorkshire for four hundred and twenty five pounds.

Within the Tompion and Graham series of numbered clocks, this is the second example to be recorded with this number, 772, both of them being longcase clocks of eight day duration. Whilst there are several instances of double numbering amongst Tompion's contribution to the series, it is a rarer occurrence amongst Graham's. This is only the second recorded instance, the other concerns two clocks numbered 655- a longcase and a table clock. The clock now being offered at auction is in a burr-walnut case whilst the second example numbered 772, which has not been published, has a case of ebonised fruitwood. The present example also has its original numbered winding key- a very rare survivor as only about nine other examples are known.

It is not known, of course, what circumstance brought about this double numbering- it might have been due to an error within the workshop, or to some breakdown in communication. Indeed, it must be pointed out that a 21st century breakdown in communication might have resulted in the erroneous listing of the ebonised example under that number. With the appearance of this walnut example numbered 772, verification has been sought regarding the accuracy of the report concerning the ebonised example which is said to bear the same number. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to confirm those details, and, as matters stand, this walnut example is the only one whose serial number, 772, has been confirmed. If it transpires that both examples are indeed, numbered 772, then it is likely that one of them should have been numbered either 771 or 773, neither of these clocks yet being listed.

The case is typical of Graham's later cases and it is stylistically closest to numbers 778 and 781, rather than to numbers 776 and 777 whose caddies have a much broader moulding. Similarly, the dial, without half-hour and half-quarter marks, is typical of Graham's later dials, and it is virtually identical to the majority of those of higher number than 717, although its Roman numerals may be slightly bolder than most.

The most intriguing aspect of this clock is the ink inscription on the trunk left hand side upright, hidden when the hood is in place, and reading 'June ye 9 1741'.

Whilst this inscription seems to show that the case was in existence at that date, it does not necessarily determine the date of the finishing of the clock, or of its retail. This is a relevant point when it is considered that the date 1741 is at least eight years earlier than the date which might reasonably have been ascribed to a clock of this number. However, as there are so few guidelines to help date the later Graham clocks, we have no idea whatsoever of the production rate, or of just how many were being retailed during specific periods. It is possible, therefore, that the inscription will be found to constitute evidence of a drastic slowing down in clock production during the last decade of Graham's life.

Our thanks to Jeremy Evans for his kind assistance with these notes  

George Graham (1674-1751), one of the renowned clock and instrument maker's of his day, was apprenticed to Henry Aske in 1688 and on gaining his freedom in 1695, he entered the service of another renowned clockmaker Thomas Tompion as a journey man.

George Graham married Tompion's niece in 1704 and became a partner in the business in 1711. Tompion had his own numbering system, and when he died in 1713, George succeeded his business and carried on with his numbering system. During this time he is thought to have made less than 200 clocks numbered from about 585 to 780.

He worked at the sign of 'The Dial and Three Crowns' at the corner of Water Lane and Fleet Street in London. George Graham was a member of several societies and was elected fellow of the Royal Society in 1721 and Master of the Clockmaker's Company in 1722.

Throughout his career he created several important inventions including the cylinder escapement, the deadbeat escapement and the mercury pendulum.

On his death Graham was laid to rest with Tompion in Westminster Abbey, a sign of how highly regarded they were in there lifetime.

Although telephone bidding is available on all sales, Tennants also welcomes buyers over the internet through The Antique Trade Gazette’s

www.the-saleroom.com for their catalogue sales.

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