I HAVE sold hundreds, if not thousands, of grandfather or longcase clocks over the last 50 years: 8-Day, 30-hour, chiming, striking, bonging, you name it, we’ve sold it.

In the 1970s, you could have bought a handsome example for well under a hundred pounds and by the 1990s, it would have been worth thousands. But in the last decade, prices have plummeted and now they can be bargains.

However, an exception to this trend is the lovely Scottish Drum Head Clock, like the one that is in our auction next week. There is just something very endearing about the quality and the unfussiness of these clocks.

This one is very much of the 1850s with just the slight reference to Victorian design in the scroll decoration to the hood. The brass dial fronts an eight-day striking movement and while not signed, it is obviously by a good maker.

I particularly like the flame mahogany bow front tapered pendulum door which gives the clock case a finishing touch.

The clock is carrying a modest estimate of £300 to £500 and hopefully this will be exceeded. After all, the gold medal produced for the 1925 centenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway showing Locomotion No 1, which I featured here a fortnight ago, did very well at the last sale. It made £420 against an estimate of £200 to £300!

Peter Robinson

Thomas Watson Auctioneers, Darlington.

  • The next sale is on Tuesday, May 25, with viewing by appointment over the weekend and on Monday. Go to www.thomaswatson.com