Lewis Walduck


Lewis Walduck

Welcome.

For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to objects and the stories they tell. That instinctive fascination led me to the world of horology, where art, engineering, and history meet in the measured rhythm of time.

My work centres on the study, research, and presentation of important historic timepieces, particularly those of 17th- and 18th-century. As a specialist in the Fine Clocks Department at Bonhams, I handle significant works by the great makers of the golden age of English clockmaking, bringing scholarship and connoisseurship together in the auction room.

Beyond clocks, my interests extend across the wider field of antiques and decorative art, always guided by a respect for craftsmanship, provenance, and history.

I invite you to explore my work and to get in touch, I look forward to hearing from you.

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LATEST ARTICLES

This week I’ve had the absolute pleasure of chatting with @barrowhepburngale to talk through the process of commissioning a dispatch box and everything that goes into bringing one to life. This week I’ve been speaking with @barrowhepburngale about the process of commissioning a despatch box and the extraordinary level of skill involved at every stage of its creation. From the careful selection of materials to the heritage crafts that shape each detail, it’s a genuine privilege to see how these remarkable objects come to life. In an age of the disposable, such craftsmanship feels more important than ever thoughtful, considered and built to endure. I’ve been chatting with @barrowhepburngale about the possibility of having my own despatch box commissioned!! It’s been fascinating learning what would be involved in creating something truly personal.What’s most amazing is the level of detail that goes into making these boxes, each one carefully built by hand using traditional skills that have stood the test of time. Today has been particularly interesting and exciting, as I have been speaking with the team at @barrowhepburngale, the remarkable company behind the iconic despatch box. We met to explore the possibility of commissioning a box of my own… It’s truly fascinating to track the evolution of objects over time, especially when you look at something as intricate as chatelaines and etuis. From the 1660s through to the 1760s, these objects transform dramatically, mirroring the changing tastes, values, and artistic movements of the period. What starts as something relatively restrained and functional evolves into the opulent, ornate Baroque masterpieces of the 18th century. The progression of these objects speaks volumes about the cultural shift, from a more conservative era to one that embraced excess and artistic flair. It’s a stunning reflection of how style and craftsmanship evolve to fit the spirit of the times. There’s something captivating about early portraits from the 17th and 18th centuries, where the objects held by the subjects tell their own story. In this case, I’m drawn to a pair of items often seen in portraits of the early 18th century. But here’s the twist: this particular chatelaine was made for a child and was likely made with one purpose in mind, to be featured in a portrait. It would’ve been commissioned by an extremely wealthy family as no young child would need such an object for every day life. This is a remarkable piece of British political history. A historic despatch box, reputed to have belonged to William Gladstone, will be offered at auction at Bonhams on 17 February as part of the Connoisseurs’ Library Sale at Bonhams Knightsbridge. This watercolour, painted in the 1840s, offers an unusual and rather moving view of Westminster Abbey from the South Bank of the Thames—a vantage since the medieval period. In front of the Abbey we see the construction of new Palace of Westminster, rising from the riverside, firmly placing the scene in a period of rebuilding and change. The painting is not a grand artistic statement, but the work of an amateur documenting what was, even then, a significant moment in London’s history. Back in November, I was delighted to chair a panel discussion on heritage crafts and the future of heritage craft in the UK at the Heritage Crafts and Conservation Careers Fair, held at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, City of London.

Lewis Walduck 2025