Eight-day clock
- Gallery: Room 39
- Maker: Edward East
- Made in: London (England)
- Date: 1671-1677 (The movement.); 1680-1690 (The case.)
- Object type: eight-day clock, night clock, weight-driven clock
- Museum number: 1980,1002.1
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
Before you is an eight-day longcase night clock made by Edward East in London around 1685. This walnut and floral marquetry case is not only a timepiece, but a work of intricate craftsmanship. The front is adorned with inlaid designs of flowers and birds made from stained woods and ivory, a style that came from the Netherlands and became fashionable in England.
Notice the elegant hood that lifts for winding and the detailed dial with a semicircular aperture. At night, a lamp inside the clock illuminates pierced numerals and marks, allowing the time to be read in the dark. The minutes and quarters are subtly indicated by serrations and pierced Roman numerals.
Edward East was known for elegant designs, and this clock shows his artistry. It also reflects the quiet lifestyle needed in a bedroom—no bells disturb the night. Beautiful to see and gentle in function, it’s a remarkable piece of horological history.
See it in person
Eight-day clock is on display in Room 39 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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