Victorian musical longcase clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1898
This Victorian-period musical longcase clock dates to approximately 1898. The clock features a wood case topped by a swan-neck pediment decorated with three brass ball-and-spire finials.
The hood is flanked by columns with decorative capitals. The dial is set behind a glass-paneled door, which is also present in the waist section to allow viewing of the internal pendulum and weights. The clock is powered by a weight-driven movement featuring a deadbeat escapement and utilizes five tubular bells to play the Westminster chimes. It provides acoustic indicators for the quarters, half-hours, and the top of each hour.
The object measures 240 cm in height, 70 cm in width, and 45 cm in depth. The auction description reports the condition as good relative to its age, with minor signs of wear and surface weathering present on the case.
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
- Longcase clock
- Chimes
- Westminster chimes on five tubular bells
- Period
- Victorian
- Condition
- Good with minor wear
- Dimensions
- 240 x 70 x 45 cm
- Case design
- Swan-neck pediment with three brass finials
- Movement details
- Weight-driven with deadbeat escapement
Design
- Case and Dial
- The upper section, or hood, features a swan-neck pediment topped with three brass finials shaped as balls and spires. Decorative columns frame the dial area. The dial itself includes a central brass section with an embossed face mask and intricate spandrels at the corners. The primary door of the hood is glazed, allowing a view of the dial, while a lower door in the waist of the clock is also fitted with a glass panel. This arrangement permits the viewing of the swinging pendulum and the hanging weights inside the case. The base of the clock is square-formed and rests on bracket feet.
- Visible features
- • Dial features a central brass plate with a face mask • Five tubular bells visible inside the case • Glass panels in both the hood and waist door • Three brass ball-and-spire finials mounted on the pediment
- Provenance and Dimensions
- The clock is identified as a Victorian-period piece, dated by the source to approximately 1898. The overall physical stature of the object is significant, recorded at a height of 240 cm. The width of the case is 70 cm, with a depth of 45 cm. The source provides these dimensions as reference for transport and installation, though it notes that additional information regarding the separation of the internal weights and pendulum should be sought from the seller for safe handling.
- Movement and Functionality
- The clock operates via a weight-driven movement. The escapement is specified as a deadbeat type. It is equipped with a musical chime mechanism that strikes the quarter-hours, half-hours, and the full hour. The acoustic system employs five tubular bells to produce the Westminster chime. The source indicates that the clock is in good condition, though it exhibits minor signs of age-related surface wear. Additional items mentioned as part of the listing include a winding key and a reported recent service history.
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 exact manufacturer is not specified in the source
- Research required: The attribution of the date 'circa 1898' originates from the source