A good 18th century lantern clock by the well-regarded maker Robert Watts of Stamford. The thirty-hour movement strikes the hours on the bell and has a verge escapement set within the back-plate, as opposed to outside, as is customary with this maker and his family. The six-inch dial has a raised chapter ring engraved with black Roman numerals and 'meeting-arrowhead' half-hour markings. The dial centre is engraved with scroll decoration eminating from above VI o'clock and the maker's signature, in scroll, 'Robt. Watts, Stamford'. There is further engraved decoration to the dial edges. The case, of typical lantern form, has the bell situated within the bell straps to the top. Interestingly, behind the chapter ring and on the dial front there is practice engraving in the form of wheatear decoration.
Robert Watts (born 1688 to John and Elizabeth of Stamford, Lincolnshire) is a well-known maker of lantern clocks, as was his father John, to whom he is recorded as being apprenticed to in 1704, and 'freed' in 1711. He married Hannah with whom he had various children including Charles who continued the family line as a clockmaker. Robert Watts was known to be working in the St. Johns district of Stamford until his death in 1759.
He is known to have maintained the clock at Burghley House for The Marquess of Exeter as records show payments to him for August 12th, 1757 of £12/2/0 and December 17th, 1759 for 12/6, the year of his death.
The style of engraving on this clock is more akin to the work of Roberts father John and may well have been made in conjunction with him.
For a lengthy discussion on the Watts family see the article by Brian Loomes in Clocks Magazine, 2008.
A fine clock by John Watts is described and illustrated in Time & Place, English Country Clocks 1600 1840 being the catalogue of the exhibition held in Oxford by the Antiquarian Horological Society. A further discussion on John Watts and his son Robert by Michael Lee is included in the catalogue.
Height: 15½ inches.
Price: On Application