Sunday 25th January 2015
Currently for auction on eBay, with a starting bid of £900, is a longcase clock being sold by longcasesuk of Cornwall. The auction ends on Wednesday 4th February 2015, at 09.38 a.m. It is described as being in reasonable condition for its age.
The description for this online auction lot reads:
“Antique mahogany automation “Warminster” longcase/grandfather clock. The slim mahogany case with a long trunk door and a swan neck hood. The painted dial with the automation of a ladies [sic] hand feeding a bird. 8 day striking movement clean and seems to function with pressure on the two great wheels. Dial signed “Simavesi & Co. Warminster” approx date in the region of 1850. The case standing just under 84″ high. A very low starting price for interesting mahogany longcase clock. Please feel free to email me at janesmp@btopenworld.com (or phone 01637 875339) if you require more information. Worldwide delivery cost please email for details. Buyer to pay realistic delivery costs (Antique carrier £75 to £95 England & Wales). Payment by personal cheque or bank transfer please if possible. Google “Rees Antiques”.
To see this clock on eBay, click on:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANTIQUE-MAHOGANY-AUTOMATION-WARMINSTER-LONGCASE-GRANDFATHER-CLOCK-/121552899877?pt=UK_Clocks&hash=item1c4d1e0f25
Danny Howell writes ~
The clock face/dial certainly features the inscription “Simavesi & Co. Warminster.” The name Simavesi is intriguing. This is not a name that is generally known in Warminster. It could be a trade name or alternative name used by Joseph Primavesi, who sometimes also spelt his surname Primavosi. He is believed to have been of Swiss/Italian descent. Joseph Primavesi was certainly trading as a watch and clockmaker on the north side of the Market Place, Warminster, according to the 1841 Census and was listed in Warminster directories published in 1842, 1844 and 1848. He does not appear in Warminster directories after that period.
Details of Primavesi and his connection/partnership with a Frederick Belloni, are given in David Pollard’s book: The Astronomical Clockmaker Edward Cockey And Other Warminster Horologists.
