Dutch Longcase Clock, Sijmon van Leeuwen

Clock.
The movement with anchor escapement and a running time of one month. The plates connected to the five pillars of the movement. The striking train strikes the full hours on a large bell and marks each quarter-hours on a smaller bell.

Dial.
The gilt centre dial with engraved silvered chapter ring, the hours indicated by Roman numerals and the minutes Arabic. Gilt-bronze openwork spandrels at the corners of the chapter ring. Below the XII a subsidiary seconds ring, an alarm disc to the centre. Above the VI a calendar aperture date indicator with the day of the week and the day symbol. The dial engraved with signature: Sijmon van Leeuwen Amsteldam.

Case.
The oak case is entirely veneered with walnut and is supported on bun feet beneath the concave plinth. The pendulum case with a trunk door with oval lenticle. The dial is flanked on both sides by columns, giving the illusion that the frieze above is merely supported by the pilasters. Surmounted by a loose hood decorated with three wooden sphere finials.

Based on the Register van Goede Mannen, in which he is mentioned, Simon van Leeuwen worked in Amsterdam from at least 1704 to 1716. He ran his workshop in the Leidsestraat and was also supervisor of the city’s tower clocks.

Literature:
Enrico Morpurgo, Nederlandse klokken- en horlogemakers vanaf 1300, 1970, p.78