AN ENGLISH GOTHIC STYLE OAK TALL CASE CLOCK, WORKS BY WILLIAM ELEMENT, ST. ALBANS, 17TH/18TH CENTURY, the arched rectangular bonnet surmounted by a broken arch crest with gilt stylized florets flanking a shaped flaming urn form giltwood finial within similarly detailed side finials, over a conforming glazed door within a block margeurite and floret carved frame and flanked by barley twist colonnettes, opening to a brass ring dial with black Roman chapters and engraved "W. Element, St. Albanz," centering black steel hands on a circular face fitted with day/night, date/calendar sub-dials, within corner spandrels of crowned scrolling foliage, beneath a circular dial within similarly applied spandrels, reversing to a thirty hour brass clock movement, above a long case with hinged door within side disengaged barley twist colonnettes and centering a shield with stylized shamrock stems centered by the date "1691" over a shield and "ANNO DOMI," above a panel enclosing a relief crowned figure wearing armor and weapons before a distant castle, titled "Richard ye FIRST, COEUR DE LION," on a conforming block base detailed with St. George vanquishing a dragon in relief and raised on bracket feet. Height: 8' 1/2" Width: 22" Depth: 9 1/2" Note: William Element (English d. 1736) recorded as a whitesmith and keeper of the historical clock tower in St. Albans, England still in existence today. Element family members including several Williams, appear in St. Albans records as early as the late 17th century, describing their various occupations and continue up to the early 19th century. Clockworks signed by William Element are rare but examples have come on the market over the years including a bracket clock by him from 1730.