Clocks

A stand-out lot of Bellmans’ (25% buyer’s premium) biannual Fine Clocks auction on December 5 was a chronometer made for the 1874 British expedition to observe the transit of Venus.

Pictured here are two very different timekeepers from sales held in Paris by Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr (28/27/21/14.5% buyer’s premium).

Harrogate Pavilions fair has a healthy focus on art and antiques made in the area such as clocks

In Norman Dean’s day, to be a watch collector was to collect pocket watches. In today’s market, when the 20th century mechanical wristwatch is king, demand for pocket watches is now markedly segmented.

For many decades, from the middle of the 16th century, the south German city of Augsburg was, alongside Nuremberg, the leading clockmaking centre in Germany.

In the 18th century, it was common practice for English watchmakers to spend several years in Paris where they were able to learn from the greatest craftsmen of the day, before returning home.

The ritual of clock-changing is upon us again when British summer time ends on Sunday October 27 and we all get an extra hour in bed.

A single-owner collection of clocks, timepieces and scientific instruments formed over 60 years went under the hammer at Fellows (25% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham on September 4.

Three years ago we featured Lewis Walduck, aged 17, in our Collector Interview (ATG No 2490). He was also a horological apprentice with The Clock Work Shop at the time. Now, at the venerable age of 20, he has been in touch with us again to announce the good news about his latest role.

Highlights from the estate of Max Clendinning and Ralph Adron sold at Sworders

One of the more unusual items on offer at Tennants’ (20% buyer’s premium) Summer Fine Sale was a lock of hair from the 19th century nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale (1820-1910). It was thought to have been cut in 1883 when she was 63 years old.

This rare 16th century German travelling clock in the form of a book sold for £27,500 at Hutchinson Scott in Skipton, North Yorkshire.

Bonhams’ Fine Clocks sale in London on July 3 included a table clock by Thomas Tompion (1639-1713) that came for sale via an unorthodox route.

Two days needed to disperse items collected over generations thanks to biscuit production success