Chippendale Period mahogany longcase clock by RAINSFORD LONDON

No: 11206

A fine Chippendale Period Mahogany longcase clock by JOHN RAINSFORD, LEICESTER SQUARE, LONDON.

We are delighted to have re-acquired this very fine example having originally sold this to a private collector at The Grosvenor House Antiques Fair back in 1978.

The five pillar movement is of very high quality, having a recoil escapement with large brass bob and flat rod. The dial is typical of his work having a narrow chapter ring signed in the centre above the aperture, JOHN RAINSFORD LEICESTER SQUARE. No spandrels, all of the hands are of high quality and are original. A similar dial is illustrated in the Wetherfield Collection Page 73. Sold by W.E Hurcomb on 1st May 1928, dated circa 1750.

The case is of solid mahogany standing on its original ‘tray’. The frets in the arch and sides of the hood are original and backed by green silk which is the same colour as the original silk. There are many unusual features in the case construction which indicates that it came out of a very high quality cabinet maker’s workshop, perhaps even Thomas Chippendale’s. The door hinges, the nature in which the quills are fixed, all being numbered and fitting into two wooden blocks under the capitals, the turned mahogany finials, the capitals at the base and the capitals at the rear of the hood. Inside the mahogany door is a large trade label stating ‘Clocks’ Dials and Watches, made and sold by John Rainsford, Leicester Square, London, and showing a square dial and a single hand.

Circa: 1755

Price £22500.00

Height: 103” (261.5cm) Width: 22” (56 cm), Depth 10 ½ “ (27cm)

Ref: Britten’s 7th Edition. Rainsford, John. New St. Sq. C.C Clock, brass and silvered dial, engraved laurel border, chimes quarters on six bells, shows days of the month, about 1725; in the Weatherfield Collection is a regulator by him.

Ref: Britten’s Fifth Edition. Rainsford, John New St. Sq. C.C. Mr. Thos. Boynton has a clock by him, brass and silvered dial, engraved laurel border, chimes quarters on six bells, shows days of the month, about 1725; another fine longcase clock by him at the Duke of York Tavern, Potters Bar, about 1750; in the Wetherfield Collection is a regulator by him.

Ref: Rainsford, John, London (New St. Sq) a. 1714, C.C. 1721-57. Bankrupt. L.c, clock, br, clock, regulator Weth. Coll.

Ref: John Rainsford, London. Mahogany regulator longcase timepiece, date about 1750. The Wetherfield Collection of 222 clocks. Sold by W.E Hurcomb on 1st May 1928 for £30,000.

After going bankrupt he moved to Leicester Square which is ‘outside’ the city limits.

Inside the bell are details of its previous repair and history, these are as follows:-

Cleaned March 1812

Cleaned November 1814

Bought at a sale at Antoney Pinner, September 25th 1872 for £22.2.0 Albert Harleshorne.

Cleaned at Ealing December 1875, £0.6.6

Cleaned by Albert Harlshorne April 26th 1879, also.

Cleaned thoroughly by Smith & Sons St. Johns Square Clerkenwell. November 1885.

Again thoroughly cleaned by Smith (initials of workmen) May 19th, 1893.

John Rainsford was apprenticed to Charles Tolly, 29th September 1714, to Robert Simpkins for seven years, and he became a fellow in 1721.

It is reasonable to assume that it is the clock being mentioned in the Fifth Edition of Britten’s at the Duke of York Tavern, Potters Bar.