- Museum number
- 1958,1006.2110
- Description
-
Horizontal table clock with detachable alarum.
Rock-crystal case with gilt-brass rims and base with three replacement lion-paw feet.
Dial with hours I-XII and 13 - 24. Later replacement steel hand.
Spring-driven iron movement with fusee and verge escapement.
Detachable spring-driven alarm mechanism with rock-crystal band and gilt-brass rims, surmounted by a bell.
- Production date
- 1550 - 1575
- Dimensions
-
Height: 15.24 centimetres
-
Width: 3.75 inches
- Curator's comments
- The following text is the entry for this object from the unpublished catalogue of pre-pendulum clocks by John Leopold, former Assistant Keeper of Horology at the Museum. This information is unedited and should be used accordingly.
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CYLINDRICAL HORIZONTAL TABLE CLOCK WITH ALARM, BOTH WITH ROCK-CRISTAL CASE.
South Germany (prob. Nuremberg), 3rd quarter 16th century.
Ilbert No. 339 Q: ex Christie 20 June 1939 lot 123.
NB: in the same sale CAI 2110, 2111, 2112, 2150, 2151, 2152.
Bibliography.
Ilbert (1947) 527.
Rhodes (1952) 32.
Britten 7 (1956) 27.
Clutton (1958) 404.
Exhib.London 1958 no.6.
Cat.Ilbert (1958) no.213.
A.H. 2 No.8 (September 1958) ii.
Tait (1968) 37, pl.29-30.
Britten 8 (1972) 27.
Britten 9 (1982) 29.
Jagger (1977) 91.
Tait (1983) 30-1.
SIGNATURE.
No signature or mark.
DESCRIPTION.
Case.
Cylindrical horizontal clock with detacheable alarm mechanism. Both cases consist of a rock-cristal band held between brass plates at top and bottom; these plates are gilded on the outside only.
In the clock the band has many internal cracks and it has broken in two places (subsequently the two parts have been glued together). The band is held between the dial, which is attached to the movement, and the base plate.
The base consists of a circular disc which is snap-fit inside a profile ring, itself bent out of strip and brazed at the join (with an overlap). The outside of the base plate is engraved with a quatrefoil ornament filled with foliage, encircled by a barleycorn border. The plate has a winding hole, which is original, and a drop-shaped aperture, which is subsequent (see Conversions).
The base is secured to the case by three gilded brass feet shaped as lion-paws, which are screwed to extensions of the movement pillars. These extensions are modern threaded ends (one thicker than the others) screwed into threaded holes in the pillars and locked by pins. These feet probably replace simple bun-feet with threaded ends to screw into the ends of the movement pillars.
Dial.
The dial consists of a brass plate which is a snap-fit inside a profile ring (construction similar to that of the baseplate). The plate has three riveted feet, through which is is attached to the front plate of the movement by a bajonet fit with a single latch.
The dial has an outer scale divided twice I - XII with half-hour marks, and an inner scale divided 1 - 24 ( the 20 and 21 upside-down). Within the inner scale is a barley corn border enclosing a four-part arabesque ornament. Originally the outer scale was surrounded by 24 touchknobs, but these have disappeared, leaving only the holes. At a later stage the two scales were covered by a gilded brass 12-hour chapterring, secured by 12 touchknobs (these are no longer present).
The steel hand is a restoration (it is a smaller version of the hand on CAI 2153 and was probably commissioned by Ilbert).
The alarm-attachment is constructed similar to the main portion. A cristal cylinder is held between two brass discs with proud rings; the rings are here brazed to the discs. The crstal is in better condition than that of the clock part. The discs are held together by the nuts of the movement-pillars (when the case is dismantled the movement threatens to fall apart).
The lower plate has three feet that clip around the dial of the clock.
Movements.
Going train.
Plated movement, made entirely of steel (except for subsequent parts). Two circular plates connected by three ornamental pillars of gilded steel, pinned on the back plate and screwed under the dial (steel nuts). The greatwheel has three crossings; all other trainwheels, which are replacements, have four. All train wheels now run in brass holes, except for the dial-side of the barrel.
Traincount:
8 ║ 54 64 38
── ║ ── ── ── 19 (x 2)
24-hour 48 ║ 6 6 6
Spring barrel: both caps riveted over three studs. Outer end of the spring now hooked over a round hook in the wall; the wall additionally has a square hole for earlier hooking, and both cap have slots for the original cross-bar. Inner end hooked over a stud on the arbor, which has a brass mantle. Blued spring (replacement); 15.5 x .3 mm. Both caps have holes for the gut, showing that the barrel has at some time been reversed. The ratchet wheel for the set-up has 12 teeth and two holes for a male key.
Great wheel: teeth individually marked. Split fusee of 13 turns, cut for gut; 21 ratchet teeth for winding.
2nd, 3rd and scape wheels: brass wheels, arbors and wheels all replaced, though the lay-out of the train has not been altered.
Potence: screwed through the plate. Counterpotence: replaced. It consists of the actual potence (brass), which is screwed to the plate; this is riveted to the steel end-plate which is additionally riveted throught the plate.
Balance: large wheel balance; this is a restoration, as is the cock. There has never been a hog-bristle regulator.
Dial wheel: friction-tight on its arbor.
Alarm train.
Plated movement; two circular plates connected by decorative, gilded steel pillars which are screwed at either end (steel nuts). The great wheel is solid, the scape wheel has three crossings. All wheels run in steel holes. The inside of the top plate and the scape wheel retain portions of the original high polish.
Traincount:
40
── 17 (x 2)
5
Open spring; outer end hooked around a stud, inner end hooked over a stud on the arbor. Blued spring (replaced); 7 x .2 mm.
Great wheel: split arbour; 15 ratchet teeth for winding.
Scape wheel: potence screwed, counter potence pinned.
Single bellstand, secured by a nut. The bell is mounted under an ornamental washer.
The back (bottom) plate has two unused screwholes, which may have accomodated additional studs to contain the spring.
CONVERSIONS.
In the backplate there are a screwhole near the edge and two small plain holes near the cock: these appear to be traces of a balance-spring conversion. The elongated hole in the base may have accomodated the regulator for the spring. The subsequent 12-hour chapterring may date from this conversion.
The restored cock is very similar to that of CAI 2150 and CAI 2151; all three clocks came from the Netter-collection, and so it is likely that the re-conversion to pre-balance spring conditions took place before 1939 (see p. ). Ilbert noted in his ledger: "Goes 26 hours", showing that the 12-hour chapterring was then still in place; both an early photograph and the Christie catalogue show it in position, fastened by twelve round-headed rivets.
It would appear that the 12-hour ring was removed soon after; it is now preserved separate from the clock, and the rivets have disappeared.
PERFORMANCE.
Going train: great wheel - 1 rev. in 4 hours.
duration - 52 hours.
escapement - 5776 beats per hour.
MEASUREMENTS.
Movements: main movement, distance between the plates - 34 mm.
alarm movement, distance between the plates - 26.5 mm.
PROVENANCE.
According to Ilbert's ledger, no.339 Q, the clock was acquired at Christie's, London, 20 June 1939, lot 123. This was the collection of Mrs.Ida Netter (p. ), and lot 123 was: "A German Striking Table Clock, the movement in circular rock crystal case, surmounted by a cupola fitted as an alarm, the metal-gilt base engraved with strapwork, supported on claw feet - 6 3/8 in. high - late 16th Century", sold to Webster for £ 9 9 -. In spite of the fact that the clock is described as having striking there is no doubt about the identity.
Ilbert Collection, presented by Mr.Gilbert Edgar C.B.E. in 1958; reg.no. CAI 2110.
COMMENTARY.
Although at a first glance this clock appears to be simply a rich example of an otherwise familiar South German type it has some puzzling features: the 24-hour dial, the decorative, gilded steel pillars, the fact that no wheels are pivoted in separate arms, and the for this type of clock unusual lay-out of the train. In fact already Ilbert realized that the clock was not of the standard German design: he noted in the ledger "long fusee & dial may be French".
All the same, the general shape and the decoration of the clock leave little doubt that it is German; in fact it can probably be localized rather more precisely. The lay-out of the movement and the shape of the pillars are similar to those in the movement of a mechanical celestial globe of 1570 by Christian Heiden of Nuremberg 1). The 24-hour dial also appears to point to Nuremberg, and may be associated with the Nuremberg hours: it is interesting to note that at least two of the lion-hunt clocks, which are closely linked to Nuremberg, have 24-hour dials 2).
One other clock of this type exists 3). It has very similar movements, thought the shape of the three turned pillars is slightly different; it also has a 24-hour dial but the ornament of the centre is different; and it has very similar feet. The two transparent cylinders appear to be flawless; in the BM-clock the cristal of the larger ring has extensive impurities (which probably indicates a place of manufacture other than the main cristal-cutting centres, such as Milan and Prague). The method of cutting the cristal is consistent with 16th-century work and there is no reason to doubt that the cylinders are original to the clock 4).
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1) Leopold (1986) 76-86, particularly fig.40. In order to balance the movement, which revolves with the globe, it was designed with the spring-barrel in the centre, but otherwise the train is planted similar to the BM-clock. In the globe the movement is not normally visible and so there was no reason to gild the pillars, which are otherwise very similar to those of the present clock.
2) See OA 4304; the clocks with 24-hour dials are MILAN and MENTMORE.
3) Formerly in a private collection; present whereabouts unknown.
4) The author is grateful to Clare Vincent (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York) for her observations on the cristal parts of this clock.
German: attachment of dial to the movement.
attachment of gut to the fusee.
French: dial
potence screwed throught the back plate.
Unconventional:
lay-out of the train.
large pinion-of-report.
Clearest similarity: Heiden globe 1570. This has similar pillars, though not gilded; similar lay-out of the train, though barrel in the centre; similar duration; pillars screwed one side (and riveted on the other); however, fusee and barrel-wall of brass.
24-hour dials may point to Nuremberg (vide Nuremberg hours): compare the lion-hunt clocks.
Main spring has far too much air: depth of the barrel 25 mm. Wall of barrel bent out of strip and brazed with overlap.
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21 Sept. 1994. Clare Vincent reckons the ornament of the base is ca.1560 and both the cristal rings old cut. She thinks some of the flawing may be subsequent (due to internal stresses), but the cristal for the larger ring will always have been a bad piece anyway. Was this quallity perhaps acceptable in Nuremberg? In Milan one would expect good, clear cristal.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY (Pauline Wholey – 2019)
Ilbert (1958) Auction cat. coll. Courtenay A. Ilbert, London, Christie, 6 7 November 1958.
Ilbert (1947) `450 year old alarm clock', HJ 89 no.1069 (October 1947) 527; Report on Leeds "Homes" exhib, with app. Ilbert's clocks. NB: there is another report on an "Ideal Home" exhib. in 1948 (HJ. March 1948, 152) which may have included Ilbert stuff.)
Rhodes (1952) G.Rhodes, `Embellishment of Clocks, decorative metal cases', AD (March 1952) 30 32.
Britten 7 (1956) Britten's Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers, 7th ed. by G.H.Baillie, C.Clutton and C.A.Ilbert (London 1956).
Clutton (1958) - C.Clutton, `Threat to a great collection - 350 years of clocks and watches', Country Life 124 (1958 II) 404-405.
London 1958 Pendulum to Atom, Goldsmiths Hall, London, 1958. For this exhib. see: HJ 100 no.1199 (August 1958) 491; HJ 100 no.1202 (November 1958) 711 718;
HJ 100 no.1203 (December 1958) 816 820 (tribute to Coole at the end).
A.H. 2 No.8 (September 1958) ii.
Tait (1968) H.Tait, Clocks in the British Museum (London 1968).
Britten 8 (1973) -
Britten 9 (1982) Britten's Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers, edited by G.H.Baillie, Courtenay Ilbert, Cecil Clutton, 9th edition revised and enlarged by Cecil Clutton (London 1982).
Jagger (1977) C.Jagger, The World's great Clocks and Watches (London etc. 1977).
Tait (1983) H.Tait, Clocks and Watches (London 1983).
- Location
- On display (G38/dc4)
- Acquisition date
- 1958
- Acquisition notes
- This clock was formerly part of the collection of Otto Koch. His 161 watches and clocks were sold at Christie's London Auction House, 20th June 1939 - 'the property of a Lady'. Otto Koch, who died in 1919, had been a partner in the jewellery firm of Robert Koch in Frankfurt, founded by his father Robert Koch in 1879. Robert Koch died in 1902. After Robert’s death the firm was continued by Louis, his younger brother. Otto's widow, Ida, married again in 1930, Emil Netter, who died in 1936. In 1938 the firm was “aryanized” and ‘sold‘ to Robert Bosch at which point the assets were frozen. In the late 1930s Ida Netter managed to flee from Germany, secretly taking the collection of watches and clocks with her, first to Holland, then to England where they sold at Christie’s. Ida Netter died in Washington DC in 1981 (Information supplied by Eric Koch, the grandson of Otto Koch; for information about the sale and the fourteen clocks and watches from the collection acquired by the BM in 1958, see Spoliation Advisory Panel Report published March, 2012 )
The Ilbert Collection of clocks, prints and other related material was destined to be sold at Christie's auction house on 6th-7th November 1958. As a result of the generous donation of funds by Gilbert Edgar CBE the sale was cancelled and the material purchased privately from the beneficiaries of the Ilbert Estate.NL1Ilbert's watches were then acquired with further funds from Gilbert Edgar CBE, public donations and government funds. These were then registered in the series 1958,1201.
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1958,1006.2110
- Additional IDs
-
Previous owner/ex-collection number: CAI.2110 (Ilbert Collection)
-
Previous owner/ex-collection number: Q339 (Ilbert Ledger)