Regency satinwood Longcase clock by john dickman of Leith

 A fine and rare Regency period satinwood longcase clock by John Dickman of Leith, dating from the early 19th century.  This exceptional 8 Day clock incorporates an unusual hybrid escapement and substantial wooden-rod "Thomas Reid" patented compensation pendulum. 

Maker: John Dickman

Place: Leith

Date:  c.1810

Movement:  8 day rack strike with hybrid recoil escapement and wooden rod compensation pendulum.  The painted dial is read by blued steel hands against roman numerals with subsidiary dials above and below indicating seconds and calendar.

Case: Satinwood veneer with ebony inlay on Douglas fir subframe

Dimensions: 81 inches tall (2.06 m)

Price: £12,000

All of our clocks are available to view by appointment at our workshop showroom in the grounds of The Drum, Edinburgh. 

John Dickman was known to be in business on Bernard street, Leith at around 1800 and had then moved to the shore by 1825.  Laterally His business premises moved out of Leith and on to George Street in the New Town of Edinburgh. 

It is recorded that John Dickman was more a purveyor and retailer (as many others were) of fine clocks rather than a maker in the literal sense.

During the first quarter of the nineteenth century, Leith was one of Scotland's busiest and most prosperous ports. As the maritime gateway to Edinburgh, its bustling quays were lined with merchant ships trading with the Baltic, the Low Countries, Scandinavia and beyond, bringing timber, iron, wine and luxury goods while exporting Scottish manufactured products to markets across Europe.

The town was a thriving centre of commerce and industry, its streets filled with merchants, shipowners, craftsmen and artisans. Clockmakers, watchmakers, cabinetmakers and instrument makers flourished alongside the maritime trades, supplying both the growing local population and the prosperous merchant class. This period also saw significant urban development, with elegant Georgian buildings reflecting Leith's increasing wealth and importance.

By the 1820s, Leith had established itself as one of Britain's principal trading ports, its prosperity fostering a vibrant community of skilled craftsmen whose work continues to be admired today. The clocks produced in Leith during this era are a lasting testament to the town's rich commercial heritage and the exceptional standards of Scottish craftsmanship.