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Ref: CK-36 Longcase Clock

Clockmaker/By : Henry Warburton of Wolverhampton.

Duration: 8 day.

Circa : Circa: 1775

Height : 88 inches. (excl finial).

Case :
Typical Midlands style with features found in this area such as domed inlay to top of trunk long.
Swan neck with wooden paterae and original wooden finial.
Mahogany panels inset below Swan necks.
Oak, medium colour with cross banding and inlay.
Reeded pillars to hood and repeated to rear of hood.
Reeded quarter columns to trunk.
Panel to base with chequered star burst inlay.
Ogee feet.
Width at widest point is 21ins (hood).

Dial :
Brass arched dial 16.5" x 12 " with Rolling Moon
Arch dial with silvered arch engraved ' WARBURTON WOLVERHAMPTON'.
The rolling moon painting with rural scene is identical to CK 42 William Yeadon of Stourbridge and the same man was responsible for both.
Engraved matted centre of dial with silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals.
Large cherub head brass spandrels.
Matching steel hour and minute hands.
Aperture calendar mouth.

Maker :
Henry Warburton was working in Goat Street, Wolverhampton 1765 - 1774. The celebrated maker Joseph Chambley also worked in Goat Street later from 1805-14. The Goat Street area was demolished as part of the Manders development in the 1960's and was opposite where Beatties department store stands.

Historical :
Henry Warburton made a special clock for the Gifford family of Chillington Hall, Wolverhampton featuring an engraved panther's head on the dial. The engraved panther's head referred to above appears in the coat of arms of the Gifford's of Chillington, in Brewood near Wolverhampton. Legend has it that Sir John Gifford (who died in 1556) shot a panther with a bow and arrow after it had escaped from Chillington Hall, the family seat. At that time it was not unusual for great families to keep private menageries of exotic animals and a friend had given John Gifford a panther. One morning the animal escaped and John Gifford and his son chased the beast towards a group of cottages about a mile away from Chillington Hall. Urged on by cries of terror from the cottages they saw the panther crouching ready to spring upon a women with babe in arms. John Gifford is said to have shot the panther in mid - leap and two crests were awarded to the family as a result of the exploit - an archer and a panther's head. The spot where the rescue took place was marked by an oak cross, known ever since as Gifford's Cross. More details of this event are available and further research is continuing.

Guarantee : 12 months.