Skip to content

Clock, ca.1550

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · partial

Period

ca.1550

An alarm tabernacle clock in a square gilt-brass case with corner pilasters and projecting foot and cornice surmounted by a bell and a male cymbal player. German, about 1580

Small table clock with gilt-brass case of rectangular form with angle pilasters and projecting foot and cornice; with a bell above enclosed within double arch ornamented with human-headed brackets and surmounted by a male figure beating cymbals, the base and sides engraved and painted with strapwork and arabesque foliage. The iron movement has a verge escapement and steel hands, South German, mid-16th century. Dial: the brass dial has an applied chapter ring 0.6 cm broad with Roman numerals I to XII and half-hour marks. Within this is a sunken ring with 13 to 24 in arabic numerals. The central alarm disc 2.5 cm diameter has arabic numerals 1-12. The modern hand is a crude replacement.

The strike dial is also engraved with arabic numberals 1-12 on the rear plate with touch pins and a crude replacement hand. Movement: Going train at front with fusee and train (now completely loose) and verge escapement. The bob pendulum is broken off and missing. All the wheels of steel except for contrate and crown wheels (which are later renewals of brass). The going train fusee arbor continued through the rear plate to a winding hole in the back plate. Locking plate striking train at the rear, with fusee and now with gut line; train all of iron except for brass fanfly. Count-wheel drive by reduction gearing from second wheel of strike train. Alarm train, all of steel, at right rear of movement, wound through a hole low in right side plate of case. Frame of steel, with square pillars and three narrow plates. One vertical pillar stamped AI in escutcheon

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.

Physical characteristics

Dimensions
Height: 7.2 in; Width: 3.3 in
Materials and techniques
Gilded brass, engraved and enamelled, the movement and hands of iron.

Technical characteristics

Place recorded
Germany

Design

Marks and inscriptions
'AI'

Identification

Candidate id
vam-O375796
Museum object number
M.259-1919
Source note
Facts transcribed from the linked single-object source. Wider type attribution and authenticity have not been independently verified.

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: confirm the wider type and source attribution against specialist references.
Can you source one of these? Submit a reference