Richard Comber, Lewes – 1780
£7,500.00
A very fine mahogany eight-day longcase by Richard Comber of Lewes, circa 1780, and of notably ambitious scale at 226 cm in height, 46 cm in width, and 24 cm in depth. The proportions alone suggest a clock commissioned for a substantial Sussex house, where architectural presence was as important as mechanical integrity. By this date Comber was at the height of his powers, producing work that combined the disciplined Lewes tradition with a boldness of execution befitting more prominent interiors.
The brass break-arch dial is arranged with clarity and authority. A silvered Strike / Not Strike dial occupies the arch above a 13-inch silvered chapter disc, inset with both a semi-circular date aperture and a subsidiary seconds dial. The maker’s name is engraved proudly within a plaque fitted across the break arch, a confident declaration of authorship. The movement, of eight-day duration, is built between thick brass plates joined by five turned and knopped pillars, housing finely finished wheelwork of evident care and precision. Regulation is by a substantial and heavy 17 cm brass bob pendulum, mounted on a tapering hexagonal rating nut engraved across its eight facets for accurate adjustment — a thoughtful and practical detail. Power is delivered by the original brass-cased weights, completing a movement of strength and refinement.
The mahogany case is of exceptional quality, displaying a rich plum tone that speaks to both material selection and age. Its scale and confident lines reinforce the impression of a special commission, while the survival of original locks, door furniture, and brass pillar caps adds materially to its integrity. Taken together, the clock presents a compelling example of Comber’s mature work — mechanically assured, visually commanding, and entirely in keeping with the aspirations of late 18th-century Sussex craftsmanship.
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