John Knibb, Oxon, a late-17th century ebonised bracket clock: of Phase IV design, the eight-day duration, double-fusee, five-pillar movement having a verge escapement and striking the hours on a bell with an outside countwheel, the backplate fully engraved with floral and wheat-ear border decoration, see R A Lee, The Knibb Family Clockmakers, plate 142, page 130, for a similar example, with the centre cartouche signed John Knibb, Oxon, the seven-inch square brass dial having a raised silvered chapter ring engraved with black Roman numerals, 'meeting-arrow-head' half-hour markings and outer five-minute Arabic numerals to the outer aspect, the matted dial centre having a date aperture with engraved surround, with the corners having cast-brass cherub-head spandrels and signed below the chapter ring at VI o'clock John Knibb, Oxon, with typical blued steel hands, the ebonised bell-top case with applied brass escutcheons to the front and top, with further inset brass fretwork above the dial, wooden fretwork to the case sides, the top surmounted by a brass carrying handle in a style typical of this maker, all standing on wood block feet, height 40cms handle up, 36.5cms handle down * Biography John Knibb was a member of the illustrious Knibb clockmaking family of London and Oxford, the most famous being Joseph Knibb, his older brother. John Knibb was born in 1650 and apprenticed to Joseph in circa 1664, who at this time had his workshop in Oxford. When Joseph moved to London circa 1670, John took on the running of the Oxford workshop receiving the Freedom of the City in 1672 having paid a fine. Obviously the clocks made by John resembled those of his illustrious brother Joseph and he obtained his cases from the same London source as Joseph. Some of John's movements may well have originated from the London workshop, identified by having both names signed on the clock, but John made movements in his own right and took on ten apprentices in his time including the excellent maker John Aldworth who, having moved to London circa 1697, continued to make clocks in the Knibb manner. John was a member of the City Council of Oxford from 1686 becoming a Bailiff in 1688 and twice Mayor, first in 1698 and again in 1710, as well as an Alderman and Keykeeper. John Knibb, of Smith Gate in the parish of Holywell, Oxon, died in July 1722 and was buried at St. Cross church, Holywell therefore ending the Knibb family's influence as clockmakers. * Note. Reference Ronald A. Lee, The Knibb Family - Clockmakers, The Manor House Press 1964; C.F.C. Beeson, Clockmaking in Oxfordshire, Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, 3rd Edition 1962.