An oak thirty hour 'Penny Moon' longcase clock by this well known and well recorded maker. The thirty hour movement strikes the hours on a bell with an outside countwheel, with the twelve inch square brass dial signed 'John Stancliffe' either side of VI o'clock and, as is common with this maker, no place name. The pendulum has a well executed brass bob in the form of a flower. The movement plates are beautifully shaped and all the movement work is well finished. The silvered chapter ring has black Roman hour numerals, well executed engraved floral half hour markings and interestingly a Dutch style 'wavy' outer aspect ring along with decorative hands. The dial centre has a 'penny moon' to the top with moon date aperture and a date aperture to the lower part. To the four corners are cast brass spandrels of the 'female head' style. The oak case has quartered trunk pillars, a shaped trunk door, a raised panel to the base and a flat topped hood with free standing pillars which have giltwood capitals. The seatboard sits on two detachable side pieces in a form known as the 'table' type which was common around the Halifax area at this period especially by the maker Thomas Lister (see below).
John Stancliffe was one of a number of clockmaker's from the same family and was born in 1715 in Barkisland, some five miles from Halifax, Yorkshire and was more than likely apprenticed to one of the great provincial clockmaker's, Thomas Ogden of Ripponden, circa 1729 or possibly another local maker, John Fletcher, who himself was an Ogden apprentice. John died in 1780, aged about 74??? and it is quite probable that his son, also John, was the maker whom we know was working in Askrigg in North Yorkshire. One of John senior's apprentices was Thomas Lister who himself went on to become another of the great provincial clockmakers. Indeed a Stancliffe movement is known signed inside by Lister so it is possible he was practicing his engraving on brass supplied by his master and then used for a movement plate.
For a two part full history of John Stancliffe, the rest of the clock making family, including his use of the maker's name without the place name, the style of dial including penny moon and date work, a history of the places the family worked and the relationships between Stancliffe and Ogden and Lister see Clocks magazines October and November 1999 'The Stancliffes of Halifax' parts one and two by Brian Loomes.
Height: 72 inches
Price: £4,850.00