Antique Lacquer 8-Day Longcase Clock. Robt Evens Halsted/ Halstead (Kent). C1750

An 8-day antique lacquer longcase clock decorated with gilt Chinoiserie on a black ground by maker Robert Evens, Halsted. With substantial 5-pillar movement in the London manner. Brass dial with silvered name boss to the arch.

Complete and fully working/ serviced.

Delivery and setup £95 to UK mainland within 250 miles of BA22 (Somerset).

Robert Evens has a listing in “Kent Clocks & Clockmakers” by Michael Pearson. He is recorded as working from Halstead, a small hamlet in Kent which now sits just inside the M25 but at the time would have been considered ‘Provincial’.

The general style of the clock seems to date to around mid 18th century. Brass silvered dial with matted centre, silvered chapter ring with joined minute ring and no half-hour markers. The lacquer case is a style that ran for most of the 18th century in London and Southern clocks.

The case has excellent proportions, not too tall at 87 inches (some of these can be very tall!). The Chinoiserie and foliate/ floral decoration is on all panels, front and sides which is a good thing, often only the door and base panels retain their decoration, the rest being rubbed and polished away over the years. As with any antique lacquer clock (unless it has been comprehensively restored) there are areas of deterioration to the decoration but this adds to the patina and feeling of ‘antiquity’.

The movement is of substantial 5-pillar construction, very much in the London manner. Fairly conventional format with bell striking (the number of each hour) controlled by a rack.

The clock is complete with lead weights, brass-faced ‘strap’ pendulum, winder and door key (working lock).