Alarm Tabernacle Clock
1580 (made)
| Place of origin |
Case: Upright case, framed by four three-quarter columns, set against fluted pilasters, the former cast and chased with an acanthus foliage and masks, rising from plinths cast and chased with trophies of arms.
The sides of the case engraved with the Annunciation and the Birth of Christ and with figures symbolic of the sun and the moon. The splayed base with central recesses is engraved with strapwork and is mounted on a wooden base stained to imitate ebony. the clock is surmounted by the alarm which is enclosed withing a frame of four brass bell straps with the heads of winged horses whose rear portions develop into foliage. Above the bell and supported by the frame is a naked putto.
The clock is mounted on a plinth of wood stained to imitate ebony.
Dial: Applied brass dial ring, 4.4 cm diameter, 1.0 cm broad, engraved with hours and quarters with Roman hour-figures I to XII, each with a touch pin, outside and arabic hours 13 to 24 inside. The dial centre now a separate disc with cast leafy pattern, replacing the former alarm dial. A winding hole pierces the outer edge of the dial outside V 1/4. Iron hour-hand.
A striking dial is engraved in arabic numerals 1 to 12 on the rear plate, with double-ended steel indicating hand. The dial is pierced by a winding hole near 8. The dial centre is engraved with arabesques.
Movement: Movement and frame of iron, with sqaure corner pillars; the frame with top and bottom plates and narrow front, centre and rear plates.
Going train at front, with fusee, chain and verge escapement, the bob pendulum at rear broken off. Brass spring barrel, and(later) contrate and crown wheels. The fusee and remaining wheels of this train are of steel.
Locking-plate striking train at rear, with fusee and chain. The count-wheel mounted between rear movement plate and outer case backplate, driven by reduction gearing from the second wheel of the striking train. Brass spring barrel, the remaining train wheels of iron. The former alarm train at top left of movement is missing, but there is the corresponding winding-hole piercing the left side plate.
The sides of the case engraved with the Annunciation and the Birth of Christ and with figures symbolic of the sun and the moon. The splayed base with central recesses is engraved with strapwork and is mounted on a wooden base stained to imitate ebony. the clock is surmounted by the alarm which is enclosed withing a frame of four brass bell straps with the heads of winged horses whose rear portions develop into foliage. Above the bell and supported by the frame is a naked putto.
The clock is mounted on a plinth of wood stained to imitate ebony.
Dial: Applied brass dial ring, 4.4 cm diameter, 1.0 cm broad, engraved with hours and quarters with Roman hour-figures I to XII, each with a touch pin, outside and arabic hours 13 to 24 inside. The dial centre now a separate disc with cast leafy pattern, replacing the former alarm dial. A winding hole pierces the outer edge of the dial outside V 1/4. Iron hour-hand.
A striking dial is engraved in arabic numerals 1 to 12 on the rear plate, with double-ended steel indicating hand. The dial is pierced by a winding hole near 8. The dial centre is engraved with arabesques.
Movement: Movement and frame of iron, with sqaure corner pillars; the frame with top and bottom plates and narrow front, centre and rear plates.
Going train at front, with fusee, chain and verge escapement, the bob pendulum at rear broken off. Brass spring barrel, and(later) contrate and crown wheels. The fusee and remaining wheels of this train are of steel.
Locking-plate striking train at rear, with fusee and chain. The count-wheel mounted between rear movement plate and outer case backplate, driven by reduction gearing from the second wheel of the striking train. Brass spring barrel, the remaining train wheels of iron. The former alarm train at top left of movement is missing, but there is the corresponding winding-hole piercing the left side plate.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Gilt copper, iron, casting. |
| Brief description | Alarm Tabernacle clock, German, about 1580. |
| Physical description | Case: Upright case, framed by four three-quarter columns, set against fluted pilasters, the former cast and chased with an acanthus foliage and masks, rising from plinths cast and chased with trophies of arms. The sides of the case engraved with the Annunciation and the Birth of Christ and with figures symbolic of the sun and the moon. The splayed base with central recesses is engraved with strapwork and is mounted on a wooden base stained to imitate ebony. the clock is surmounted by the alarm which is enclosed withing a frame of four brass bell straps with the heads of winged horses whose rear portions develop into foliage. Above the bell and supported by the frame is a naked putto. The clock is mounted on a plinth of wood stained to imitate ebony. Dial: Applied brass dial ring, 4.4 cm diameter, 1.0 cm broad, engraved with hours and quarters with Roman hour-figures I to XII, each with a touch pin, outside and arabic hours 13 to 24 inside. The dial centre now a separate disc with cast leafy pattern, replacing the former alarm dial. A winding hole pierces the outer edge of the dial outside V 1/4. Iron hour-hand. A striking dial is engraved in arabic numerals 1 to 12 on the rear plate, with double-ended steel indicating hand. The dial is pierced by a winding hole near 8. The dial centre is engraved with arabesques. Movement: Movement and frame of iron, with sqaure corner pillars; the frame with top and bottom plates and narrow front, centre and rear plates. Going train at front, with fusee, chain and verge escapement, the bob pendulum at rear broken off. Brass spring barrel, and(later) contrate and crown wheels. The fusee and remaining wheels of this train are of steel. Locking-plate striking train at rear, with fusee and chain. The count-wheel mounted between rear movement plate and outer case backplate, driven by reduction gearing from the second wheel of the striking train. Brass spring barrel, the remaining train wheels of iron. The former alarm train at top left of movement is missing, but there is the corresponding winding-hole piercing the left side plate. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | The Annunciation and Birth of Christ. |
| Credit line | Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh |
| Object history | One of five clocks given by Dr W.L.Hildburgh FSA. Dr Hildburgh had an endearing habit of giving the museum presents at Christmas and on his own birthday. Dr Hildburgh bought boxwood carvings, Spanish silver, the interiors of the Northumberland House Glass Drawing Room; and when he died bequeathed the rest of his collection. Given by Dr W L Hildburgh. |
| Historical context | The cast parts are of a higher quality than the engraved panels and were probably supplied from Augsburg or Nuremberg |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.55-1952 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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