Cooper Hewitt Skeleton Clock on Wooden Base
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1890
This skeleton clock, dated to circa 1890 and catalogued by Cooper Hewitt as made in Scotland, is mounted on an oval brown wooden base supported by four dark bun feet.
The front of the base features an inlay panel of wood and presumed ivory portraying a bird amidst foliage. The clock's openwork brass framework supports a circular pierced brass chapter ring with Roman numerals I through XII, revealing an exposed movement with a fusee and chain drive.
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
- ca. 1890
- Type
- Skeleton clock
- Origin
- Scotland
- Materials
- Brass, wood, ivory(?)
- Dimensions
- 31 x 24 x 16 cm (12 3/16 x 9 7/16 x 6 5/16 in.)
- Place recorded
- Scotland
- Movement Mechanism
- Fusee and chain
Design
- Visible features
- • Pierced brass chapter ring with pointed perimeter finials and Roman numerals • Open brass frame resting on four brass pillar supports on an oval wooden plinth • Oval wooden base with dark bun feet and a decorative inlaid panel on the front face
- Associated Components
- The museum record identifies two additional components: a fitted glass vitrine (b) and a circular key (c). These components are listed in the catalogue description, though their current status or physical inclusion with the primary clock unit (a) is not specified in the descriptive text.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The clock is catalogued as having been made in Scotland and is dated to approximately 1890. It is held under the accession number 1967-66-30-a/d. The status of the object is recorded as 'Research in Progress' by the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
- Object Description and Construction
- The object is a skeleton clock mounted on an oval wooden base supported by four bun feet. The base features a decorative panel inlaid with wood and a material identified by the museum as 'ivory (?)', displaying a motif of a bird and foliage. The clock includes a circular brass chapter ring marked with Roman numerals I through XII. The internal brass movement is exposed, featuring a fusee and chain drive.
Identification
- Reference
- 1967-66-30-a/d
- Accession Number
- 1967-66-30-a/d
- 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: The glass vitrine (b) and circular winding key (c) mentioned in the catalogue text are not shown in the image.
- Research required: The presence of ivory in the inlaid decorative panel is questioned by the museum cataloguers ('ivory (?)').