Clock No. 358
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Minimum Bid |
SOLD!! |
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Weights |
3 |
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Length |
36 inches |
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Wall Stabilizers |
Original |
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Case Condition |
1 |
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Winding Key |
New w/brass knob |
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Mechanism |
Clean, but needs lines |
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Mechanism Mount |
Wooden seat board |
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Beat Scale |
Original |
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Pendulum |
Zinc backed |
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Clock 358
Detail
Dial
Key
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Mechanism (view 1)
Mechanism (view 2)
Weights
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It seems that with every catalog I come across one or two clocks that teach me something new - some unexpected feature or style. This lovely, and fairly late example of the quality for which the Viennese are so justifiably famous is an amazing juxtaposition of the quality of the Viennese mechanisms from the middle of the eighteenth century and the very high quality case work of the Jugendstil period.
First, the mechanism. As can be seen in the photo, the works are the same as one would expect to find in a granne-sonnerie Vienna Regulator from 1850: Thick plates, cast angle brackets to mount to the seat board, delicate crutch, and, what you can't see in the photo, a single-piece Graham dead-beat escapement anchor, very fine fans on the strike trains, beautifully delicate arms and levers in the strike mechanism - all perfect for a much earlier clock. But then you notice the truly unusual strike arm return springs - coils with an adjustable tensioning knob - how wonderful! Note too, the hands, a modern style, but executed to the standard you would expect from a much earlier period. This mechanism even has the narrower chapter ring, beautiful winding hole grommets, and a heavy, zinc-backed bob, all appropriate for a clock from 1850: But then there is the Arabic numerals to the hour chapter ring. While there is no way of knowing, I suspect this piece was made as a demonstration of a young clock-makers coming
of age - his "Masters Piece" to qualify him as a Viennese clock maker.
Again, there is no way to know, but this mechanism truly is a wonderful piece to find in a late Jugendstil case.
Speaking of the case, it is everything you would expect of the latter period of Viennese clock making, old glass throughout, beveled to the lower section of the door, very solid, with a key lock, and delicate carving to the headpiece and center section of the door. And, since the clock strikes on straight gongs, it has that lovely, deep tone.
By the latter part of the nineteenth century the use of Veneer was significantly reduced, giving us cases that are, like this one, made of solid wood. The case is beautifully finished inside and out and in excellent condition: Even the wooden strips holding in the glass are finished and match the wood in the case. With its engraved weights/matching pendulum bob, embossed weights, and its relatively short length of 36 inches, it would be an easy clock to make space for in your collection.
Caveats: The winding key is new, and, while the mechanism is pretty clean, it does have gut on two lines, and monofilament on one: I would recommend going thru it to install quality lines and make sure everything is as perfect as a clock of this quality demands.
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