David Walter 'Great Wheel' Skeleton Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1989
This English-style 'Great Wheel' skeleton clock was custom made by clockmaker David Walter for Mr. and Mrs. Robert Urich, according to auction records. The source states that it is one of a limited edition of seven clocks made in 1989.
The brass skeleton mechanism features an openwork regulator-style dial, an overhead bell with striking hammer, and prominent wheelwork, housed in an arched wood-framed glazed hood atop a glazed wooden plinth resting on ball feet. The arched brass frame displays engraved inscriptions on its forward legs.
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
- Type
- Skeleton clock
- Maker
- David Walter
- Style
- English Style 'Great Wheel' Skeleton Clock
- Edition Size
- 7 clocks made
- Production Year
- 1989
- Maker / attribution
- David Walter
Design
- Visible features
- • Arched wood-framed glazed hood housing an openwork brass clock mechanism. • Glazed base plinth with ball feet and lower movement components visible below. • Regulator-style open dial ring with subsidiary rings and overhead bell with hammer. • Engraved script visible on the front arch of the brass frame.
- Dial and Movement Display
- Visual observation indicates a regulator-style open dial ring accompanied by subsidiary rings, with an overhead bell and hammer positioned at the top of the openwork brass movement. Beyond the 'Great Wheel' style designation in the lot title, technical movement specifications—such as power source, gear train details, and escapement—are not recorded in the source text and cannot be verified through the front glass enclosure.
- Visible Case and Framework
- Frontal observation shows an openwork brass clock mechanism housed inside an arched wood-framed glazed hood, positioned over a glazed base plinth supported by ball feet. Lower movement components are visible through the glazed base. Engraved script is present along the front arch of the brass frame, though the precise inscription cannot be transcribed from the single front photograph.
- Identity and Commission History
- Catalogued as an English-style 'Great Wheel' skeleton clock, this piece is documented by the auction house as having been custom-made by clockmaker David Walter for Mr. and Mrs. Robert Urich. According to statements attributed to the maker in the auction record, only seven of these clocks were produced in 1989, with no further examples to be made.
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: Photographed only from the front behind glass; rear and side movement details are obscured.
- Research required: Dimensions and exact case wood type are not specified in the source text.