Tall clock
Diego Evans
(English, working in London about 1760–1800)
case about 1750; movement about 1775
Medium/TechniqueRed Japanned decoration on wood with brass 8-day movement
DimensionsOverall: 271 x 54.6 x 27.9 cm (106 11/16 x 21 1/2 x 11 in.)
Credit LineGift of Horace Wood Brock
Accession number2021.552
On View
On viewClassificationsFurniture
Collections
In addition to keeping time, this musical clock could play one of four tunes every hour using sixteen small hammers that strike thirteen bells of different sizes. It is decorated in a technique called japanning, a European invention to imitate the popular imported Asian lacquer work available since the 17th century. The red color of this clock was particularly popular in Spain; English furniture makers created pieces like this specifically for export to the Spanish market. Signed ‘Higgs y Diego Evans, Londres,’ this clock was clearly destined for Spain.
InscriptionsDial marked "Higgs y Diego Evans'ProvenanceFrancis Egerton, London [see note 1]; by inheritance to Peter Maitland (d. 2009), London; April 28, 2010, posthumous Egerton and Maitland collection sale, Sotheby’s, London, lot 689, to Anthony Woodburn (dealer), Lewes, England; 2010, sold by Anthony Woodburn to Horace Wood Brock, Gloucester, MA; 2021, gift of Horace Wood Brock to the MFA. (Accession Date: September 30, 2021)NOTES: [1] The Chairman of Mallett Antiques, London, from 1955 until 1983. It is unknown when and how he acquired the clock.
1740–60, rejapanned about 1820–50
about 1690
about 1500 or 17th century
About 1730–40
1660–80
