English Clockwork Orrery by Eric Watson
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Circa 1982
This handmade English clockwork orrery was crafted circa 1982 by Eric Watson of Saddleworth, United Kingdom, and is reported by the dealer to be one of five made.
Constructed of gilt brass with silvered dials, the mechanism models the solar system including the Sun, Earth, Moon, and five planets. The Earth globe is fashioned from hammered and enameled copper with silver-overlaid continents. Its movement relies on an eight-day fusee-driven clockwork train with over 80 wheels, driven by elliptical gears each possessing around 600 teeth, regulated by a seconds-beating club-tooth lever escapement with a remontoire.
The mechanism stands on splayed brass legs upon a hexagonal Sapele-veneered wooden plinth fitted with a key drawer.
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
- Base
- Hexagonal Sapele-veneered base with drawer
- Type
- Clockwork orrery
- Maker
- Eric Watson of Saddleworth, UK
- Materials
- Gilt brass with silvered dials and enameled copper Earth
- Escapement
- Large club tooth lever escapement with remontoire
- Movement drive
- 8-day fusee-driven clockwork mechanism
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Maker / attribution
- Eric Watson
- Planetary depictions
- Earth, Moon, Sun, and 5 planets
Design
- Visible features
- • A central sphere represents the Sun, surrounded by geared arms carrying planetary spheres and an enameled terrestrial globe. • The terrestrial globe features a blue enameled surface with silver metallic continental outlines. • A complex multi-tiered gilt brass train of gears is mounted upon three splayed brass support legs. • The structure rests on a molded hexagonal wood-veneered base featuring a brass drawer plate with a small knob.
- Mechanical Movement
- The instrument features an 8-day fusee-driven clockwork mechanism. It utilizes a gear train containing over 80 wheels, with planetary motion driven by elliptical gears each possessing approximately 600 teeth. The system is regulated by a large club-tooth lever escapement that incorporates a remontoire and is designed to beat seconds.
- Construction and Materials
- The orrery is constructed of gilt brass with silvered dials. The terrestrial component is formed from hammered and enameled copper, featuring silver-overlaid continents. The mechanism is mounted on a hexagonal base veneered in Sapele wood. The base includes a drawer for storage; however, the winding and setting keys, along with the source-referenced custom glass cover, are not visible in the provided imagery.
- Maker and Historical Identity
- This clockwork orrery is attributed to Eric Watson of Saddleworth, UK, with an approximate production date of circa 1982. The item is identified by the dealer as one of five examples produced. The device is a hand-made clockwork model of the solar system, designed to represent the Sun, Earth, Moon, and five planets.
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: The custom-made glass cover mentioned in the source description is not present in the photograph.
- Research required: The winding and setting keys stored in the base drawer are not depicted.