Lantern Clock by Webster

QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, LONDON

A spring-driven lantern clock by Webster of Queen Victoria Street, London. The dial engraved 'Webster, established 1711, Queen Victoria Street, London' and with foliate decoration below. The silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals. Traditional cross-dolphin frets. The 8-day spring-driven movement with passing strike and the maker's name 'Webster' engraved to the back plate. Overall height of the clock 11 1/2 inches and width 4 1/2 inches.

The Webster family clockmaking business was founded by William Webster (I) in 1711 and passed from father to son for almost 200 years. Having completed his apprenticeship with Thomas Tompion, William Webster (I) became a freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1710 and started the Webster clock-making business at Exchange Alley, London in 1711. The business passed through successive generations of the Webster family and, in 1849, following the death of his father Richard (II), it passed to Richard (III) who had been apprenticed to his father in 1834 and became a freeman of the Clockmakers Company in 1844. Richard (III) moved the business from Cornhill to Queen Victoria Street in 1872 and traded there until his death in 1882. The business then passed to Richard (III)'s son Richard Godfrey Webster who was not very successful and in about 1904, the business passed out of his control to Richard Webster Ltd. The company ceased trading by 1914.

Price: SOLD