Nathaniel Hodges clock strikes in sale

Fine clocks struck with buyers in the Summer Fine Sale at Tennants Auctioneers, with exceptional results achieved for two examples made in the late 17th century – the so-called ‘Golden Age’ of English clock making. Selling for a hammer of £20,000, was a good Kingwood Eight Day Table Timepiece, made circa 1685 by Nathaniel Hodges of Wine Office Court, Fleet Street.

A good Walnut and Marquetry Month-Going Longcase Clock made circa 1690 by Phillip Corderoy of London sold for £17,000; both clocks were sold with provenance from the Estate of the late Lord Lloyd of Berwick. Dating from a century later was a desirable Mahogany Verge 7-Inch Dial Wall Timepiece, made circa 1790 by Ben Dunkley of Tooting, which sold for £4,000 against an estimate of £1,200-1,500.  

 Elsewhere, one of the other top lots of the sale was a Sèvres Porcelain Tea Service of Royal Provenance, which sold for £20,000. This exquisitely painted service dated from 1820, and comprised a teapot and cover, a sucrier, a milk jug and five cups and saucers, all decorated with portraits of great composers including Gluck, Haydn and Mozart, painted by Jean Georget. Having been completed on 22 September 1821, this service, referred to as Déjeurner des Musiciens Célèbres was a demonstration of the exceptional artistry of the factory, where it remained until it was delivered to King Louis Philippe on 8 December 1831. Other notable lots amongst the ceramics in the sale were an unusual Pair of Dutch-Decorated Chinese Porcelain Bottle Vases, dating circa 1720 and decorated in a European and Japanese style, which sold for £9,500, and a 19th-century French Gilt Metal Mounted Chinese Porcelain Jar and Cover, which sold for £2,500.  

An imposing George III Mahogany Four-Door Breakfront Library Bookcase lead the furniture in the sale, with a hammer price of £4,800, whilst an English Black and Gilt Japanned Cabinet sold for £4,000, and a Regency Specimen Wood Nest of Five Tables, attributed to Gillows sold for £4,500. Amongst the seated furniture, a Pair of French Hepplewhite Style Carved Mahogany Library Chairs dating from the 19th century sold for £4,500 and a Howard & Sons Late Victorian Bridgewater Deep-Seated Armchair sold for £4,500.  

The Asian Art Sale, which was held the day before on 11th July, saw strong international bidding. Highlights of the sale included a Chinese Porcelain Figural Night Light and Stand from the Chongzhen reign, which sold for £4,800; a Chinese Porcelain Vase, Kangxi, which fetched £2,800; a Chinese Porcelain Part Tea Service, Yongzheng/early Qianlong, selling at £2,800, and a Pair of Jade Hardstone and Cloisonne Enamel Mounted Carved Hardwood Plaques, late Qing/Republican period, which sold at £1,900.