Today, we examine a massive 18th century clock in our Artifact Corner.
www.kentdelordhouse.org/
Hi Everyone, and welcome back to another artifact corner. Today we will be looking at this massive clock that we have in the gold parlor room. This clock is a wooden case, that is overall painted black with gold painted hunting scenes. The clock is definitely inspired by Asian art, which was incredibly popular in the 18th Century. The clock case is in rough condition, so the motifs on the case can be hard to clearly see. This clock was made sometime in the late 1700’s, by the English clock maker Isaac Rogers, who’s works are in major museums in the US and Europe. Let’s learn a bit more about the clock maker Isaac Rogers and a very important organization he was heavily involved in.
Isaac Rogers was born on the 13th of August 1754 to parents Isaac and Elizabeth Rogers in London. His father was also a clock maker, so it’s clear that Isaac followed in his father’s footsteps. There is not a lot of information regarding Isaac’s training or apprenticeships. We know that he began working on his own in 1784. He was a prolific watch and clock maker in his time, and according to the auction site Bonham’s, “Rogers specialised in watches for the Turkish market.” He was warden of the Worshipful Company of watchmakers from 1810-1812 and also in 1823. Isaac Rogers passed away in 1839 at the age of 85 years old.
So, what is the Worshipful Company of Watchmakers that Isaac Rogers was the Warden of? Well, this organization is still going strong today! Here is what they say about the founding of their company. “The 1620s saw a desire by clockmakers to establish a dedicated company as a representative body, but this was met with opposition from the other livery companies, in particular the Blacksmiths. The formation of a livery company was an expensive undertaking, and when a second attempt was made at the end of the 1620s, this coincided with King Charles I’s pressing need to raise revenue. The Clockmakers' Company eventually received its Royal Charter on 22nd August 1631. The Charter created a corporate body for all the Clockmakers in the City of London and within a radius of ten miles around, with regulatory powers covering England and Wales. It specified that the new Fellowship should be governed by a Master, three Wardens and ten or more Assistants who would form a Court. The first Master was David Ramsay, former Chief Clockmaker to King James I. The 1800s and beyond
saw the peak and then decline of the trade in the United Kingdom. Major makers such as Benjamin Vulliamy, William Frodsham and Josiah Emery continued to advance the science of horology, but international competition was fierce, and the UK trade suffered. However, since the 1970s there has been a strong resurgence, with the emergence once more of the nest handcrafted timepieces, made in Britain.”
Our clock case is in rough shape. The paint is peeling, and it would be lovely to have it properly restored. The actual mechanism is in good condition, but we do not have it running. It is a beautiful clock and we are so lucky to have this stunningly built piece in our collections. Thanks so much for stopping by.
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Sunny Morning by MusicLFiles
Free download: filmmusic.io/song/7813-sunny-...
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