18th.c. Welsh Longcase Clock by Watkin Owen of Llanrwst c.1780

Georgian brass faced 8 day longcase clock c.1780 by Watkin Owen of Llanrwst, Wales’ most celebrated clock maker. Excellent Conwy valley oak case, the hood with an architectural ‘broken’ pediment and a pair of turned columns. Long door with shaped top repeated in the base panel, reeded quarter columns and crisp ogee mouldings waist. 13" square brass face with original hands, a separate chapter ring, seconds dial and date display. The centre of the dial is beautifully engraved for Watkin Owen Llanrwst within a foliate cartouche and flanked with flowers. 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. Some earlier restorations to the case which has been cleaned and waxed in our workshops. Winder and key supplied.

Also supplied with the clock is a package containing a note from a previous owner recording the history of the clock since the 2nd half of the 19th.c. and letters relating to inclusion of the clock in the Clockmaker's of Llanrwst survey in 1983 and the subsequent exhibition in Llanberis in 1984. Note also the Clockmaker of Llanrwst survey sticker inside the door of the clock.

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. 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'.