New Exhibit - Queen Mary Tompion The Queen Mary Tompion miniature table clock was made by Thomas Tompion for Queen Mary II, who was the Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland and reigned jointly with her husband, King William III and II (also William of Orange). It is probable that the queen initially ordered the clock from France and sent it to Tompion’s London workshop for repair. It appears Tompion decided to refit the clock's French red turtleshell Boulle case with a new special eight-day movement. The red turtleshell veneer has pewter inlays and a sunburst centre (just above the XII) with floral garlands on the door. It was designed by or based on the designs of Daniel Marot, a Huguenot architect, furniture designer and engraver known for his Late Baroque style of design, notably for Louis XIV. The way that Tompion altered the case to accommodate his movement indicates that he received the case in an already complete form and had to work around its specifications. Perhaps Tompion was instructed to use the case as part of the commission or maybe he took great liberties with what was supposed to be a ‘repair job’? Owing to the strong likelihood that Marot was commissioned explicitly for the case design, there is also the possibility that he did not fully account for the parameters of the English movement in his design, forcing Tompion to make do and alter the case to fit his movement. Whatever the circumstances were, with his upgrade, Tompion ensured that the Queen’s clock was not only elaborate but also delivered precision timekeeping thanks to its verge escapement with spring suspended pendulum, worm-driven pendulum regulation system and hour striking and repeat mechanism. He certainly maxed out the complications within this miniature marvel that no doubt achieved her majesty’s seal of approval. Visit the new exhibit to discover more.
