Clock No. 388
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Minimum Bid |
SOLD |
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Weights |
3 |
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Length |
51 Inches |
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Wall Stabilizers |
Old and wonderful |
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Case Condition |
1 |
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Winding Key |
Original with wooden handle |
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Mechanism |
Clean and running |
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Mechanism Mount |
Wood Seat Board |
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Beat Scale |
Original |
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Pendulum |
Zinc back |
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Clock 388
Base
Dial
Headpiece
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Pulleys
Signature
Winding Key and Beat scale
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Claterbos tells us that Josef Lorenz was freed from his apprenticeship (which he served under Karl von Fabricius) in 1826, was listed as a clockmaker and a Bürger Meister (civil master) from 1836 to 1856, was living at Bauernmarkt 13 in 1867, and was no longer listed in 1880.
I would place this clock in the late 1840's to 1850's, with its very nice mechanism (appropriate in quality for a piece from 20 years earlier, when Lorenz was being trained as an apprentice), and its later-Biedermeier influenced style, replete with canted door edges and the general subtle changes that make the late Biedermeier cases so very attractive.
Often I stand back and look at a piece - to get an overall impression. This clock, with its rather long, and narrow case, gorgeous, virtually flawless, signed dial, early, engraved pulleys, subtle base finials and carved headpiece presents a rather elegant, if subdued presence. With its faux-finished case (in excellent, original condition) offering the subtle maroons of rosewood under direct light, but otherwise presenting a dark walnut visage, this piece reflects the wonderful quality of the late Biedermeier period. A time when popular tastes were demanding more exciting pieces than were accepted a mere 20 years earlier.
I mentioned the dial above - it really is quite glorious with its narrow chapter ring (a characteristic of the earlier clocks with their wider mechanisms), amazingly perfect makers name, grommets to the winding holes, and hands that are ever so delicate, yet robust, being made of very high quality spring steel. The dial with its associated bits and bobs is a work of art in its own right.
With its original wall stabilizers (with larger than usual knobs, in which there is a decorative circle inscribed), unusual, and perfect condition beat scale, very nice wooden-handled winding key, near perfect (if tarnished) weights, unusual, engraved pulleys, perfect, zinc-backed bob, this clock is very much of a piece.
The mechanism is of the quality expected of a Viennese Master trained in the 1820's - exceptionally well made. And, while I find the mechanism runs nicely (it has been for the last week as I got around to shooting the photo’s), it does have new gut. If hung in my collection I would replace the gut weight lines with a modern, braided weight line that is designed to support 80 pound weight, as opposed to the under 4 pound weights on this piece. I would be happy to replace the lines for $50.
Your attention is called to the very attractive headpiece. While this piece is apparently not original to this clock, it is nicely made, and complements the piece quite well. The clock also has holes for a pair of finials to the sides of the top. For my tastes, I prefer the look as it is, without the added busyness of additional finials. But, as is always the case, I can provide appropriate and perfectly matching finials for $40 each.
And, as one always hopes, all of the glass is old and wavy.
Caveats: The dial chapter ring has two virtually invisible hairline cracks, the top is not original to the clock, and one side of the very bottom finial is missing the back corner - not visible when looking at the clock from the front, but, if you get down on your hands and knees, and look at the bottom finial from the side, you will look a bit silly. But you would also note that the bottom finial is missing a back corner.
Recommendations Have SNClocks restring the mechanism for $50.
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