Studio: international art (26.1902)

Long Case Clocks

away,—to how many volumes do we not grudge
the richness lavished on their covers? But in Miss
King's art it is never so. We treasure the book
she has decorated because its contents have an
added value from the beauty of their exterior, and
we feel as we read a book she has illustrated that
it would be the poorer were her drawings, with
their deft and dainty expositions, not a part of it.
Miss King's art, however, needs but few words to
explain and emphasize its intentions, and proofs
are to be found in the accompanying illustrations
of the practical truth of this appreciation.

fig. i.—early clock by fig. 2.—timepiece by

thomas tompion, "the william clement,

father of english known as the first

clockmaking," about maker of long case

l68o clocks, about 1680

188

fig. 3.—clock by fig. 4.—clock, richly

thomas tompion, inlaid, by edward

about 1700 east, about 1690

SOME NOTES ON OLD LONG
CASE CLOCKS. BY F. J.
BRITTEN.

The long case, or "grandfather," clock,
so intimately associated with English halls and
homes for over two centuries, is surely worthy
of at least a slight review. It dates from the
time of Charles II., and though each succeeding
period exhibits some distinguishing feature, its
tall, square, wooden case remains characteristic
of the variety throughout. Poets and story-writers
have discoursed affectionately of its tick, the sound
of its bell, its face and its hands, and who among