Buschman Minerva German Horizontal Table Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1650
This horizontal tabletop clock is attributed to Johannes Buschman the Younger, dating to circa 1650 and originating from Augsburg, Germany. The timekeeping mechanism is housed within a moulded ebony and turtleshell casing with a mottled red finish.
The movement incorporates a fusée and chain system with a verge escapement and balance with hogs-bristle regulation. A silver figure representing Minerva acts as a centerpiece for the Roman numeral-engraved chapter ring, using a staff to indicate the hour. A rotating sun motif, positioned beneath the figure on a green velvet base, functions as a minute indicator. The design includes a gilded backplate, which is pierced and engraved with a floral motif and bears the maker's signature.
The object measures 5 5/8 inches in width, 5 5/8 inches in depth, and 5 inches in height, reflective of mid-17th-century household clock production.
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 1650
- Type
- Table clock
- Maker
- Johannes Buschman the Younger
- Location
- Augsburg, Germany
- Signature
- Johannes Buschman, Aug:
- Dimensions
- 5 5/8" wide x 5 5/8" deep x 5" high
- Case materials
- Ebony, turtleshell
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Movement features
- Fusée and chain, verge escapement, hogs-bristle regulation
- Maker / attribution
- Johannes Buschman the Younger
Design
- Visible features
- • Silver figure of Minerva holding a staff • Roman numeral chapter ring with sun indicator • Mottled red turtleshell veneer over casing • Pierced and engraved floral backplate
- Movement and Mechanics
- The mechanism utilizes a fusée and chain arrangement to equalize the force delivered from the mainspring. Regulation of the timekeeping is achieved through a verge escapement paired with a balance wheel system incorporating hogs-bristle regulation. The mechanical assembly is mounted against a gilded backplate, which serves as a decorative component as well as a housing for the movement. This backplate is hand-pierced and engraved with floral motifs, and it serves as the location for the maker's signature, providing identification of the clock as a work of Johannes Buschman.
- Case and Dial Construction
- The clock is presented in a horizontal format with a base composed of moulded ebony and turtleshell veneer. The exterior features a mottled red aesthetic consistent with the ornate decorative preferences of its era. The top surface supports a central silver figure of the Roman goddess Minerva, who is rendered standing upon a green velvet field within the dial area. The dial is defined by a metal chapter ring engraved with Roman numerals. Time is indicated by Minerva, who holds an authoritative military staff pointing toward the current hour on the ring. Beneath her feet, a separate sun-shaped element rotates to provide a minute indication, adding a level of mechanical complexity to the display.
- Signatures and Attribution
- The clock is attributed to Johannes Buschman the Younger, a member of a known family of clockmakers from Augsburg, Germany. The attribution is supported by the signature found on the gilded backplate of the timepiece. The engraving explicitly identifies the maker and the location of manufacture. The object is presented as part of the mid-17th-century tradition of Augsburg clockmaking, during which artisans produced complex, luxury spring-driven mechanisms for elite patrons. Similar examples of German table clocks from this timeframe are held in museum collections including the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Frick Collection.
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: Specific provenance history not provided
- Research required: Individual mechanical performance not reported