Antique Fusee Skeleton clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1860
This antique skeleton clock, dated to circa 1860, is constructed with a brass triple-plate frame featuring pierced, fretted detailing. The movement utilizes a fusee mechanism for consistent power delivery from the spring, providing an eight-day duration.
Time is indicated on a pierced, silver-plated dial decorated with engraved patterns and Roman numerals, complemented by dark decorative hands. The strike train features an hour passing strike, with the hammer acting upon a metal bell mounted at the top of the structure. The clock is set upon a polished wooden base and enclosed within an oval glass dome. Regulation is performed by a wood rod compensated pendulum featuring a large cylindrical weight.
The gear train is designed with six-spoke wheels. The open architecture reveals the inner mechanics and geometry of the brass plates, allowing for full visibility of the movement components.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- circa 1860
- Dial
- Pierced silver-plated
- Type
- Skeleton clock
- Movement
- Fusee spring driven
- Construction
- Triple plate brass
- Power reserve
- 8 days
- Striking mechanism
- Hour passing strike
- Maker / attribution
- Pendulum of Mayfair
Design
- Dial and Hands
- The dial is designed to complement the skeletonized frame, featuring a pierced and fretted aesthetic that matches the surrounding brasswork. The surface is silver-plated and decorated with engraved detailing. Time is marked by Roman numerals integrated into the ring. Readability is provided by dark, decorative hands that contrast with the reflective silver-plated dial and the polished brass of the movement plates. These elements are designed to be read easily against the background of the exposed gear train and plate geometry.
- Visible features
- • Pierced, fretted brass frame structure • Six-spoke wheel design within the gear train • Hour passing strike hammer and bell assembly • Silver-plated chapter ring with Roman numerals
- Frame and Architecture
- The clock features a skeletonized construction, which removes traditional casing to expose the internal brass movement. The frame is designed as a triple-plate structure composed of brass, characterized by intricate pierced and fretted curves. This open design renders the geometry of the plates and the moving components visible from multiple angles. The entire assembly is secured to a polished wooden base, which serves as the foundation for the clock. Protection is provided by an oval-shaped glass dome, which covers the movement while maintaining visibility of the mechanical assembly within. The structural arrangement prioritizes the display of the brasswork and the gear train operation.
- Movement and Timekeeping
- At the core of the clock's function is a fusee spring-driven movement, engineered to provide a constant force to the gear train throughout its eight-day power reserve. The wheels within the gear train are manufactured with a six-spoke design. Regulation of the timekeeping is managed via a wood rod compensated pendulum, which is weighted by a substantial cylindrical bob. The clock includes a strike function described as an hour passing strike. This mechanism is configured to sound a single blow on a metal bell positioned at the highest point of the clock structure. The interaction between the strike train and the bell occurs at the top of the movement frame.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Condition of the mainspring and fusee chain or line is not stated
- Research required: Integrity of the brass plates and authenticity of the glass dome have not been verified by the source