ROBERT HIGGS tall case clock; London, late 18th century.

ROBERT HIGGS tall case clock; London, late 18th century.
Mahogany wood with bronze applications.
Retains weights and pendulum.
Signed on the dial.
Measurements: 249 x 55 x 26 cm.
Robert Higgs,
This high case clock is an excellent example of English watchmaking of the 18th century, a period considered the golden age of mechanical precision and aesthetic refinement. In fact, the Bancod e España collection has a piece (Inventory No. Cat. R_49) very similar in design signed by the same watchmaker.
Robert Higgs and his brother Peter, who obtained the degree of master in 1767, resided and worked in Sweeting's Alley between 1740 and 1769. Later, around 1780 or 1785, they entered into a partnership with Diego Evans. Thereafter, their pieces were signed as "Higgs and Diego Evans, London". However, a number of earlier period clocks survive that bear only the name Robert Higgs, suggesting that this specimen may have been made prior to that partnership. In addition, Higgs was notably active in the export market, especially to Spain.
The case is made of solid mahogany, a wood highly prized in Georgian England for its stability, beauty and richness of color. The arched top, topped by turned pinnacles, frames the dial naturally and reinforces the monumental verticality of the whole. The preservation of the original weights and pendulum adds exceptional value from both a historical and functional point of view.