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e-Exhibition Objects from the Library and Collection of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers. |
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On August 22nd, 2001, the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers of London celebrated its 370th anniversary as a London “Livery Company” or guild.
The Company was founded by Royal Charter, which it still retains [1]. In its famous Collection, it also holds a number of clocks and watches made by those actually named in the Charter’s text. The Charter and selection of the early makers’ work are shown here.
The Charter was granted in 1631 by King Charles I (1625-1649), as a result of a petition presented by Francis Foreman [2] and Richard Morgan. Many London clockmakers had subscribed to the project, including William Petit [3] and Richard Crayle [4].
The Charter named “our well-beloved servant David Ramsey Esquire [5] to be the first and present Master of the said Fellowship” and “Henry Archer, [6] John Wellowe and Sampson Shelton to be the first and present Wardens”. “And we have assigned and named, constituted appointed and made… our well-beloved James Vautrolier [7], John Smith, Francis Forman, John Harris, Richard Morgan, Samuel Lynaker, John Charlton, John Midnall, Simon Bartram and Edward East [8] to be the first and present Assistants of the said Fellowship”.
1. The Company’s Charter, vellum. Granted on 22nd August 1631, but not completed until 1634, when Mr. John Chappell was paid £4 for its “flourishing and finishing”. [MS.6430] 2. A brass weight driven house or “lantern” clock, signed “Francis Foreman at St. Paules gate”, c. 1630. [Mus. No:1165] 3. The case of watch signed on the backplate “G (Guilliemus) Petit Fecit” Petit was a watch case maker by trade. c. 1625 [Mus. No. 1248] 4. The side of an octagonal rock crystal cased watch, signed “Richard Crayle fecit.” c. 1630 [Mus. No. 21] 5. An exceptionally fine star-shaped watch, signed on the backplate “David Ramsay Scotus me fecit” and on the dial “de Heck sculp”. C. 1625. This watch was said to have been discovered hidden behind a tapestry at Gawdy Hall, Norfolk c. 1790. [Mus. No: 7] 6. A small 16th century French table clock case, fitted c. 1625 with a purpose built fusee movement signed “Henry Archer”. [Mus. No: 584] 7. An extremely high quality watch with a silver and gilt metal inner case, and a silver outer case, signed “James Vautrolier fecit.” c. 1630 [Mus. No: 708] 8. A watch movement signed “Edward East Londini”, c. 1650. Presented to the Collection in 1816, by the watch and clockmaker B.L. Vulliamy. [Mus. No: 26] |
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