A pendulum clock used in an early longitude trial will be offered for sale by Dreweatts next month, writes Roland Arkell.
The movement (now in a later case) is thought to be one of two marine timekeepers commissioned from the clockmaker Severijn Oosterwijck (c.1637-c.1694) by the Scottish nobleman Alexander Bruce (1629-81).
Dreweatts, which will offer the clock at its March 15 sale, is reluctant to estimate its value. However, specialist Leighton Gillibrand is of the view that the Bruce-Oosterwijck timepiece is the better of the two survivors and could thus bring a six-figure sum.