From Tuesday 14th June to Thursday 23rd June, London clock dealer Howard Walwyn will be presenting a specialist selling exhibition at his gallery at 123 Kensington Church Street, London W8 7LP. “Lanterns and Taverns: clocks for the Wall and Hall, will provide an exciting opportunity to acquire some of the rarest and most exceptional examples from these two distinctive areas of clockmaking”, explains Howard Walwyn.
Howard who is passionate about these rare clocks is keen to share his knowledge and will be conducting curatorial tours each day throughout the duration of the exhibition. “These clocks have a fascinating history, a number of them are over 300 years old and even the more recent examples are comparatively rare today. The exhibition will have timepieces ranging in price from £3,000 to £135,000. Not everyone is aware that clocks are exempt from Capital Gains Tax – like vintage cars, they are classified as machines, so they have the potential to be a good, long term tax free investment!”
The talks will take place each day at 2pm except Sunday, June 19th when the gallery is closed. Tickets are FREE but must be booked in advance by phoning or emailing the gallery on Tel: 020 7938 1100 Email: [email protected]
There will be visiting speakers too, including – William Bruce, a leading authority on lantern clocks and their restoration, Martin Gatto, the author of the only book devoted exclusively to the Tavern Clock, and Dr Paul Dean, who will host an evening on the poetry and songs related to Taverns entitled ‘Saloon Bards’
2.00pm Saturday 18th June – Martin Gatto – “The Tavern Clock 1720-1830. A uniquely British Timepiece”
7.00pm Tuesday 21st June– Dr Paul Dean – ‘Saloon Bards’ * – more details of the talks and speakers can be found in Notes to Editors.
The first half of the exhibition will be devoted to Lantern Clocks. These were the very first weight driven domestic wall clocks to be made in England from the early 1600’s and continued up until the end of the 18th century.
The second part will include a superb collection of Tavern Clocks which, as Howard Walwyn explains, were ‘a uniquely British phenomenon.’ Those on show will range from two of the earliest tavern clocks ever made circa 1725, to two later mahogany examples made circa 1820. These reliable clocks were designed as important timekeepers in public places such as Coaching Inns, Taverns and Churches.
Any one of these impressive clocks in their distinctive gilt chinoiserie lacquer cases would look fantastic in either a modern or traditional setting. Today a fine original 18th century tavern clock can be hung on a wall as a fully functioning rare horological work of art, making a welcome change to a picture or painting.
The exhibition will transfer to The Art & Antiques Fair, Olympia, where it will run from Monday 27th June to Sunday 3rd July 2016.
Exhibition Dates: Tuesday 14th – Thursday 23rd June 2016 Location: 123 Kensington Church Street, London W8 7LP Press preview: Tuesday, 14th June at 10.30am
Exhibition Opening Times:
Mondays – Fridays – 10am – 6pm Saturdays – 11am – 5pm
Sundays – Closed
Website: www.walwynantiqueclocks.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7938 1100