Mahogany Longcase Clock By Watkin Owen Of Llanrwst C.1800

Georgian brass faced 8 day longcase clock c.1800 by Watkin Owen of Llanrwst, Wales’ most celebrated clock maker. A very rare example having a case of Cuban mahogany rather than oak as is typical in the vast majority of Owen family clock of this period. The hood topped with a swan neck pediment with brass fittings over the arch top door and pair of fine turned and fluted columns also brass mounted. Long door to the main case, highly figured with moulded edges and shaped detail to the corners repeated in the small panel below and also on the base. Fluted quarter columns and crisp ogee mouldings at the waist. Raised on the original shaped bracket feet at the front and sides.
Unusual one-piece arch top brass face engraved directly with the numerals and seconds (rather than being on separate chapter rings) and with a circular date display. Topped with a large engraved urn and named for Watkin Owen Llanrwst. Several engravers were used to decorate the faces of Owen's clocks, this is undoubtedly the work of 'The Urn Engraver'. The rare one-piece dials are believed to date from the period 1798-1805. Eight day works, featuring Owen's signature fifth pillar and striking the hours on a bell. Original weights and pendulum.
Excellent condition, the works have been cleaned and overhauled and are sold with a 12 month guarantee. Case has been cleaned and waxed in our workshops. Winder and key supplied.

The Owen family of Llanrwst, a small market town in the Conwy valley, are probably the most prolific and best known family of 18th century clockmakers in Wales. Watkin Owen (1755-1809) was aged just 21 when his father, the respected clockmaker John Owen, died. After establishing himself as head of the business, he improved and refined his father’s works, adding a fifth pillar to the movement and producing a remarkable number of clocks of consistently high quality and reliability housed in excellent regional cases. Mahogany cased clocks by Watkin Owen are rare with only a handful having been recorded. For more information about Watkin Owen you can’t beat the remarkable study of his output which makes up the bulk of Colin and Mary Brown’s book 'The Clockmakers of Llanrwst'.