Clock
1579 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
CASE: Posted frame with four corner pillars, angled and with deeply-cut Gothic mouldings at the top and near the middle, the pillars splayed out at the bottom and ending in vertical slightly-moulded feet and each surmounted by a finial with ball top.
The pillars linked by a horizontal strap 11.4cm square at the top and a similar strap 12.7cm at the bottom.
Signed in pointille on the lower strap “EL 1579” (for Erhard Liechti).
DIAL: painted dial-plate with moulded crocketed ogee top enclosing a lunar dial, and with shaped and moulded bottom.
White chapter-ring 12.1cm diameter, 1.3cm broad, with Roman hours and diamond-shaped half-hour marks. Central hole (7.4cm diameter), occupied by a rotating disk (7.0cm diameter) with 48 teeth at its circumference and driven by an 8T wheel above VI. Attached to the disc is the hour-hand, one end of which is literally in the form of a hand with pointing forefinger and the other end a shaped balancing piece.
The disc with a 12-pointed gilt sunburst and now numbered 1 to 12 clockwise in Arabic; beside each numeral is a small hole for insertion of an alarm pin. (The numbering should be anti-clockwise).
Within the arch, a moon-phase aperture through which is seen a rotating disc with one of two effigies of the full moon on a deep-blue background with gilt fixed stars.
MOVEMENT: The movement trains mounted between three vertical strips that are 2.2cm wide. The bell contained within four stepped straps, decorated by florets and surmounted by a finial ending in four down-turned petals.
Both main trains weight-driven, with spiked pulleys and ratchet wheels.
Going train and at front, with verge escapement, crown-wheel and foliot balance (these last two probably renewals). The great wheel rotates once every two hours and carries two pairs of release pins, one pair on either side of the wheels, each lifting its own “nag’s head”.
The rear nag’s head gives a single stroke at the half-hours, by direct operation from the right-hand bell-hammer.
The nag’s head at the front releases the striking train, which is at the rear of the movement, with an external count-wheel with internal teeth.
Alarm train at the top front, with a grooved pulley coaxial with a crown-wheel driving a verge and double-ended hammer. There is at present no connection between this alarm and the alarm dial.
Both bell-hammers are ornate, and each includes a scroll. The moon-phase disc is driven by two stages of reduction gearing from the hour-hand arbor, the gearing being 5/50, 5/59.
The pillars linked by a horizontal strap 11.4cm square at the top and a similar strap 12.7cm at the bottom.
Signed in pointille on the lower strap “EL 1579” (for Erhard Liechti).
DIAL: painted dial-plate with moulded crocketed ogee top enclosing a lunar dial, and with shaped and moulded bottom.
White chapter-ring 12.1cm diameter, 1.3cm broad, with Roman hours and diamond-shaped half-hour marks. Central hole (7.4cm diameter), occupied by a rotating disk (7.0cm diameter) with 48 teeth at its circumference and driven by an 8T wheel above VI. Attached to the disc is the hour-hand, one end of which is literally in the form of a hand with pointing forefinger and the other end a shaped balancing piece.
The disc with a 12-pointed gilt sunburst and now numbered 1 to 12 clockwise in Arabic; beside each numeral is a small hole for insertion of an alarm pin. (The numbering should be anti-clockwise).
Within the arch, a moon-phase aperture through which is seen a rotating disc with one of two effigies of the full moon on a deep-blue background with gilt fixed stars.
MOVEMENT: The movement trains mounted between three vertical strips that are 2.2cm wide. The bell contained within four stepped straps, decorated by florets and surmounted by a finial ending in four down-turned petals.
Both main trains weight-driven, with spiked pulleys and ratchet wheels.
Going train and at front, with verge escapement, crown-wheel and foliot balance (these last two probably renewals). The great wheel rotates once every two hours and carries two pairs of release pins, one pair on either side of the wheels, each lifting its own “nag’s head”.
The rear nag’s head gives a single stroke at the half-hours, by direct operation from the right-hand bell-hammer.
The nag’s head at the front releases the striking train, which is at the rear of the movement, with an external count-wheel with internal teeth.
Alarm train at the top front, with a grooved pulley coaxial with a crown-wheel driving a verge and double-ended hammer. There is at present no connection between this alarm and the alarm dial.
Both bell-hammers are ornate, and each includes a scroll. The moon-phase disc is driven by two stages of reduction gearing from the hour-hand arbor, the gearing being 5/50, 5/59.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Wrought iron with painted dial |
| Brief description | Lantern clock with clock weights |
| Physical description | CASE: Posted frame with four corner pillars, angled and with deeply-cut Gothic mouldings at the top and near the middle, the pillars splayed out at the bottom and ending in vertical slightly-moulded feet and each surmounted by a finial with ball top. The pillars linked by a horizontal strap 11.4cm square at the top and a similar strap 12.7cm at the bottom. Signed in pointille on the lower strap “EL 1579” (for Erhard Liechti). DIAL: painted dial-plate with moulded crocketed ogee top enclosing a lunar dial, and with shaped and moulded bottom. White chapter-ring 12.1cm diameter, 1.3cm broad, with Roman hours and diamond-shaped half-hour marks. Central hole (7.4cm diameter), occupied by a rotating disk (7.0cm diameter) with 48 teeth at its circumference and driven by an 8T wheel above VI. Attached to the disc is the hour-hand, one end of which is literally in the form of a hand with pointing forefinger and the other end a shaped balancing piece. The disc with a 12-pointed gilt sunburst and now numbered 1 to 12 clockwise in Arabic; beside each numeral is a small hole for insertion of an alarm pin. (The numbering should be anti-clockwise). Within the arch, a moon-phase aperture through which is seen a rotating disc with one of two effigies of the full moon on a deep-blue background with gilt fixed stars. MOVEMENT: The movement trains mounted between three vertical strips that are 2.2cm wide. The bell contained within four stepped straps, decorated by florets and surmounted by a finial ending in four down-turned petals. Both main trains weight-driven, with spiked pulleys and ratchet wheels. Going train and at front, with verge escapement, crown-wheel and foliot balance (these last two probably renewals). The great wheel rotates once every two hours and carries two pairs of release pins, one pair on either side of the wheels, each lifting its own “nag’s head”. The rear nag’s head gives a single stroke at the half-hours, by direct operation from the right-hand bell-hammer. The nag’s head at the front releases the striking train, which is at the rear of the movement, with an external count-wheel with internal teeth. Alarm train at the top front, with a grooved pulley coaxial with a crown-wheel driving a verge and double-ended hammer. There is at present no connection between this alarm and the alarm dial. Both bell-hammers are ornate, and each includes a scroll. The moon-phase disc is driven by two stages of reduction gearing from the hour-hand arbor, the gearing being 5/50, 5/59. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | “EL 1579” (Signed on the lower strap; the pointille signature is characteristic of the Liechti family who were active as clockmakers in Winterthur from 1514 to the early 19th century; Erhard Liechti is recorded between 1561 and 1604 )
|
| Object history | Given by W.E.Miller |
| Historical context | The Liechti family of clockmakers were active for more than 300 years. Ulrich (died 1627) and Andreas I (1562-1621) were the sons of Erhard Liechti, and at the latter's death in 1591 they jointly continued the workshop, a partnership which lasted until 1599 or shortly afterwards. Two other clocks signed by Erhard and dated 1572 and 1580 are in the Gewerbe Museum, Winterthur |
| Subject depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.6:1 to 3-1932 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
