I have to preface this by saying that, not being from North America, some of the clock prices in the USA are confusing to me. But this one especially so. The Skinner auction closed yesterday. A longcase clock is a tiger maple case sold for well over the estimate - in fact for much more than many Tompion clocks have sold for. If this clock had been British, I would have assumed that there was nothing special about it, except that it had a nice case and a bit more engraving than most. Can anyone educate me on why this was so expensive? Oh, this is the clock... Rare Tiger Maple Tall Case Clock with Elaborately Engraved Brass Dial | Sale Number 3307M, Lot Number 98 | Skinner Auctioneers
Local clock in local market is the only explanation. Interesting dial but as you say here that is all it would be, it is a late brass dial longcase long after the cream of the crop here. You would expect an East or a Tompion for that here.
I think the easy answer is there were two people or two organizations with a lot of funds, both decided they would buy the clock. It took a bit for reality to set in with one party. It is a rare maker, brass dialed, and in a tiger maple case. But still, I don't see $125K being a bargain. But in the days of $450 million paintings, $125k isn't even lint in a pocket, much less chump change?
OK, I get that there were some heavy hitters bidding. But the pre-auction estimate was pretty sky high as far as I could tell ($25-35k) which is why I was watching it, just to see what happened. Is the maker that well know that it would justify such a pre-auction estimate? All I can seem to find on a quick search is that he was peripherally related to some revolutionary figures. Would that have such an effect on the price?
American made longcase clocks fetch much higher prices here than English clocks, but this seems excessive. Uhralt
Hood (bonnet) looks like it was repaired or replaced at some time as it doesn’t have a lock as far as I can see. But it is a great looking case
It is significant in appearance if nothing else. I would properly silver the dial and call it all good and enjoy it.
The hood door was probably locked from within the case, most of mine are. (or were) It's an unusual pattern of veneer, unusual to have barleytwist and cavetto mouldings, no windows or frets in hood sides, just has an all round unusual look to me. Doesn't mean it is wrong, I'm not an expert on high end cases, and it's provincial rather than London.
