This historic long case clock in an example of the first "grandfather" clocks to be made. They were the direct result of Huygens' application of pendulum to clockwork in Holland in 1657. Johannes returned from Holland in May 1658 with details of the invention and with his father started to make these superb small architectural long cases. The design of the ebony case has recently been tentatively attributed to Christopher Wren. Only about twelve of these clocks are known to have survived and most are in English public collections, including The British Museum, The Science Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum, The National Maritime Museum and The History of Science Museum, Oxford. There are perhaps as few as six architectural long case clocks by either Johannes or his father Ahasuerus Fromanteel, left in private hands. This example is believed to have been made for the Duke of Parma and was the heirloom of a noble family of Spanish origin. The following is an extract from "The Commonwealth Mercury" dated 25th November 1658: There is lately a way found out for making clocks that go exact and keep equaller time than any now made without this regulator, examined and proved before his Highness the Lord Proctor by such doctors whose knowledge and learning is without exception, and are not subject to alter by change of the weather, as others are, and may be made to go a week, a month or a year with once winding up, as well as those that are wound up every day, and keep time as well, and is very excellent for all houseclocks that go either with springs or weights; and also steeple clocks that are most subject to change of weather. Made by Ahasuerus Fromenteel, who made the first that were in England. You may have them at his house on the Bankside, in Moses Alley, Southwark, and at the sign of the Mere Maid in Lothbury, near Bartholomew Lane, London. The last clock of this type to come up at auction was sold by Christie's on 12 December 1988 and, although it was presented with a verge escapement and a bob pendulum, there is evidence that it had also been converted at one time to anchor escapement with a long pendulum as had most if not all the others. The anchor escapement in this clock is extremely early with one pallet much longer than the other, in the style of Fromanteel. It is possible therefore that the conversion was carried out by Fromanteel himself as the escape wheel is also very early.