An exceptional and historically important marquetry inlaid walnut longcase clock by William Raynes of York, last quarter of the 17th century, the eight day movement with bolt and shutter maintaining power and striking on a bell via an outside countwheel, the brass 10-inch square dial with narrow silvered chapter ring, black Roman hours and Arabic minutes, framing a matt centre with blued steel hands, subsidiary seconds dial and square date aperture, all cornered with finely cast and pierced cherubs head spandrels, above engraved 'Gulielmus Raynes Eboraci Fecit' across base of dial plate, the well-proportioned and elegant case with floral marquetry panels to the trunk door and featuring the arms of The Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers to the base panel, the hood with moulded pediment above a blind fretwork frieze, glazed door and barley twist columns, the rectangular trunk door with glazed lenticle and cross grain mouldings, the base with plinth, height 192cm, with pendulum, a pair of brass cased weights and a winder. Note: William Raynes was apprenticed in London to William Almond in 1653 and completed his indenture in 1661. He went on to set up his own workshop in Butchers Row, East Smithfield, London. In 1672 he ceased to be listed as a London clockmaker and set up business in York. It is recorded that by 1679 he had established a successful and thriving business, where this clock would have been made. This clock was presumably a commission from The Worshipful Company of Master Joiners and Ceilers. William Raynes died in 1695 after a fall from his horse. Provenance: for many years this clock has been in the private collection of Mr Ronald A. Lee and thence by direct descent. Ronald Lee (1913-2000) was the most prominent fine quality clock dealer of the 20th century with premises in Bruton Place, London. He was a leading authority on English clocks and wrote numerous publications, including the definitive account of the Knibb family and their clocks, 'The Knibb Family & Clockmakers', in 1964 and 'The First Twelve Years of the English Pendulum Clock' in 1969.