Crystal Regulator Mantel Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1890
This mantel clock, identified in the source text as a crystal regulator, features a brass frame with four glass panels that expose the internal mechanics and pendulum.
The design includes horizontal strips of Champlevé enamel decoration at the base and the upper frame. The clock is powered by an eight-day mechanical spring-driven movement, which includes a gong striking mechanism. Visible through the glass, the clock is equipped with a dual-reservoir mercury pendulum, which is intended to provide thermal compensation. The dial is white enamel with black Arabic numerals and two winding holes.
Access to the movement is provided by hinged glass doors at both the front and the rear. The clock is stated to be in good condition relative to its age, with minor signs of wear reported on the casing and the dial.
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
- Dial
- White enamel with Arabic numerals
- Type
- Crystal regulator
- Movement
- 8-day spring-driven
- Pendulum
- Two-jar mercury pendulum
- Decoration
- Champlevé enamel strips
- Case material
- Brass and glass
Design
- Visible features
- • Champlevé enamel bands on upper and lower frame • Dual-reservoir mercury pendulum visible internally • Hinged glass door access for movement and winding • Number 229 visible on the movement plate and case frame
- Case and Dial Design
- The clock is constructed as a crystal regulator with a brass frame encompassing four clear glass panels. This design provides visibility into the internal operation of the clock, including the movement and the pendulum assembly. The upper and lower sections of the brass frame are decorated with inset Champlevé enamel strips featuring colored patterns. The dial is circular, finished in white enamel, and marked with black Arabic numerals for the hours. Access to the winding arbors and the movement is facilitated by hinged glass doors located on both the front and rear of the clock case.
- Movement and Pendulum
- The clock operates on an eight-day, spring-driven mechanical movement. It is equipped with a striking mechanism that uses a circular wire gong, positioned toward the rear of the movement structure. The two winding holes on the dial correspond to the timekeeping and striking functions. Central to the clock's regulation is a dual-reservoir mercury pendulum. The two glass cylinders contain mercury, which is intended to compensate for temperature-induced variations in the pendulum's length, thereby stabilizing the clock's beat.
- Provenance and Condition
- The source notes that the clock is in a condition appropriate for its age, documenting only minor signs of wear and surface markings on the casing and the enamel dial. There is no reported documentation regarding recent professional cleaning or mechanical servicing of the movement. A discrepancy exists between the seller's initial text description, which labels the item as a 'Vienna wall clock', and the actual visual representation of the object as a brass-framed crystal regulator mantel clock.
Identification
- Serial number
- 229
- 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: Discrepancy between source descriptive title (Vienna wall clock) and visual evidence (crystal regulator)
- Research required: Unverified mechanical condition or history of servicing