EARLY WEIGHT-DRIVEN WALL CLOCK A.G. and I.H.S. Circa 1580 Italy
M&R215
EARLY WEIGHT-DRIVEN WALL CLOCK
Signed A.G. and I.H.S.
Circa 1580
Italy
Movement
The weight-driven steel movement is constructed between vertical bars and consists of going, striking and alarm trains. The going train has a vertical verge escapement with balance. The striking is regulated by a count wheel and indicates the hours fully on a bell. The Italian hour striking strikes two times 1 -6 hours. In addition, the movement has an alarm. The back is marked A.G. and I.H.S.
Dial
The gilt brass front has a silver Roman chapter ring with half-hour markers. In the centre is a beautifully engraved firegilt alarm disc with Arabic hour numerals, the alarm time being indicated by the tail of the steel hour hand. The chapter ring is surrounded by a moulded bezel with touch pins so that the time can be determined in the dark.
Case
The firegilt brass case is profusely engraved depicting scroll, leaf and floral motifs. The dial is flanked by colums. There are two small doors to the sides, whilst the case is surmounted by a bell under an openworked dome crowned with a finial and surrounded by four turned finials on the corners.
Duration 1 day
Height 15 cm.
Width 8 cm.
Depth 7 cm.
Literature
– Tardy, La Pendule française, volume I, Paris 1981 p. 49
– Antiquorum Geneve, Sabrier 1993, p. 18
– Watches and table clocks from the Louvre Museum, Catherina Cardinal, 2000
– L’inventeurs du temps
The maker:
The initials A G could correspond to those of Ansenius Gualterius, active between 1556 and 1575 in Lowen to whom several astronomical instruments are attributed.
A very similar clock was formerly in the Paul Garnier Collection, and is now in the Louvre. Three examples of miniature wall clocks and an empty case are known to have survived, all of virtually identical construction and therefore attributable to the same unknown maker.