Table clock, c. 1730 - c. 1750

Table clock veneered with tortoiseshell on a walnut core. It rests on articulated flat silver feet, has a moulded base moulding and a cushion-shaped top with a silver handle. The door is arched and scalloped at the top. The silver dial features female figures in the corners symbolizing the four continents, and in the arch acanthus scrolls with instruments on either side of an indicator for the phases of the sun and moon. The brass hands are openworked and gilded. In the centre an indication of day and date, and on a cartouche surrounded by openworked acanthus scrolls, the signature N. Weylandt Amsterdam. The sides have arched pierced openings at the top that show openworked silver fillings with acanthus scrolls, a dolphin, and trophies of musical instruments against a background of green fabric. The clock plays several tunes. At the back a door like the one on the front, through which part of the movement and the engraved backplate, which is likewise provided with the signature, are visible. The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-KOG-1670; its record gives material recorded as tortoise shell, textile materials, silver (metal), pear (wood), brass (alloy), oak (wood); technique gild; measurements height 30.1 cm x width 14.1 cm x depth 9.3 cm x weight 3338 g. Description translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text; details are those of this museum object, and how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.