236 - Anonymous - South German Table Clock

Anonymous - South German Table Clock A high-quality, South German, one-handed, square cased table clock with hour strike Dimensions 90 x 140 x 140 mm, circa 1640, Origin Österreich, Accessories Case: Firegilt bronze case, moulded, side panels engraved with floral and animal motifs, sound hole, baluster feet, hinged base plate engraved on both the inside and outside. Dial: Bronze, firegilt, openworked, richly decorated corner spandrels with mascarons, applied silvered chapter ring with radial Roman hours, florally engraved and gilt centre, single blued iron hand, Movm.: Square brass movement, screwed-on silvered applications, chain/fusee, 1 hammer / 1 bell, 1 barrel for striking train, locking plate for strike mechanism, verge escapement, large three-arm iron balance, openworked and engraved balance cock with mythical creatures. A horizontal table clock is a portable, flat timepiece from the Renaissance and Baroque periods (16th to 17th centuries), with its dial positioned horizontally on the upper surface and intended to be read from above. They were generally round or square, hexagonal or octagonal boxes made of gilt brass or bronze, often richly decorated and engraved. The dial was set horizontally into the top plate, often with just a single hour hand. This design was made possible by the invention of the mainspring and the fusee mechanism in the 16th century, allowing clocks to operate independently of pendulums and gravity in any position. Many examples were designed as astronomical clocks or alarm clocks and, in addition to the time, displayed the date, phases of the Moon or the position of the Sun. They were less intended as practical everyday objects than as precious works of art, status symbols and collectors’ items for princely courts. Case: very good, slightly rubbed. Dial: very good. Movm.: very good, capable of running, cleaning recommended.