TOWER-SHAPED TABLE CLOCK (TURMCHENUHR), UNIDENTIFIED MARK 'RL' ON EACH SIDE OF A FOLIOT, SOUTH GERMANY, CIRCA 1600, striking as hours
and quarters pass, alarm clock, age and phase of the Moon , and day of the week.
Main dial with three recesses presenting the minutes in Arabic numerals numbered in groups of five, with the quarter hours indicated by Roman numerals in the center of the numbers 15, 30, 45, 60, (eg. 4III5), the hours in Roman numerals , the half-hours marked by an asterisk, the two scales surrounding a disc for the phases of the Moon in the center revolving below a plate, originally silvered, bearing a scale for the age of the Moon and partly openworked to let the phase appear, iron hands, originally gilded, cut and engraved; lower dial (originally silvered), for days of the week named in Latin, each with the symbol of its tutelary god; the back bears two small dials for the alarm clock (on the left) and the quarter hours (on the right).
Movement in iron and brass with pillars and plates, three barrels including that for the rocket motor body, horizontal verge escapement with short simple balance wheel (rear), strike on two gongs.
Prismatic case mounted on a base (associated) with a molding return engraved with streamers, without feet, the main case gilded and engraved on the front and back with a fine decoration of foliage on a streaked background around the dials, the back with a similar decoration above the dials but above decorated with St Jerome under study accompanied by his lion; the panels on each side are decorated with figures of warriors dressed in ancient times, the one on the left holding a large cross-shaped sword, the one on the right a scimitar, perhaps alluding to the endless wars between the Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire. A scourging scene is below the 'Christian' warrior, and a sleeping king, but holding an arrow, below the 'Turkish' warrior. The tower is surmounted by
(Important wear, reassembly and changes; gaps in the arches and deformation of their top, gilding and silvering largely missing)
An engraved, gilt brass, table tower clock marked with the unidentified monogram 'RL', South Germany, circa 1600
33 x 14, 60 x 15 CM - 13 x 5.7 x 5.9 IN.
and quarters pass, alarm clock, age and phase of the Moon , and day of the week.
Main dial with three recesses presenting the minutes in Arabic numerals numbered in groups of five, with the quarter hours indicated by Roman numerals in the center of the numbers 15, 30, 45, 60, (eg. 4III5), the hours in Roman numerals , the half-hours marked by an asterisk, the two scales surrounding a disc for the phases of the Moon in the center revolving below a plate, originally silvered, bearing a scale for the age of the Moon and partly openworked to let the phase appear, iron hands, originally gilded, cut and engraved; lower dial (originally silvered), for days of the week named in Latin, each with the symbol of its tutelary god; the back bears two small dials for the alarm clock (on the left) and the quarter hours (on the right).
Movement in iron and brass with pillars and plates, three barrels including that for the rocket motor body, horizontal verge escapement with short simple balance wheel (rear), strike on two gongs.
Prismatic case mounted on a base (associated) with a molding return engraved with streamers, without feet, the main case gilded and engraved on the front and back with a fine decoration of foliage on a streaked background around the dials, the back with a similar decoration above the dials but above decorated with St Jerome under study accompanied by his lion; the panels on each side are decorated with figures of warriors dressed in ancient times, the one on the left holding a large cross-shaped sword, the one on the right a scimitar, perhaps alluding to the endless wars between the Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire. A scourging scene is below the 'Christian' warrior, and a sleeping king, but holding an arrow, below the 'Turkish' warrior. The tower is surmounted by
(Important wear, reassembly and changes; gaps in the arches and deformation of their top, gilding and silvering largely missing)
An engraved, gilt brass, table tower clock marked with the unidentified monogram 'RL', South Germany, circa 1600
33 x 14, 60 x 15 CM - 13 x 5.7 x 5.9 IN.
