TURMUHR H.K. Munich Ca. 1580 Germany

M&R218

TURMUHR
Punchmark H.K. (Hans Koch) and city mark for Munich
Circa 1580
Germany

Movement
The day-going spring-driven iron and brass movement consists of going, striking and alarm trains. Both going and striking trains have spring barrels with gut fusees. The going train has verge escapement with balance wheel and hog’s bristle regulation, whilst the hour striking train is regulated by a count wheel. The clock is marked H.K. on the alarm bar, together with the punch mark for Munich, a hooded monk.

Dial
The firegilt brass dial has a Roman hour ring I-XII, with an inner Arabic ring 13-24, surrounded by a bezel with touch pins to allow ascertaining the time in the dark by feeling. There are half-hour markers between the hour numerals. In the centre is an alarm disc with every hour marked by Arabic numerals 1-12 around a beautiful engraving. The time is indicated by a blued-steel. The rear side has two dials, the upper one indicating the position of the striking train, whilst the lower one is for regulating the clock

Case
The gilt brass case bears the inscription BARTOLOMEUS MERRADT. F.D. LEYW. BARYR on the front, probably the name of the first owner. The sides are engraved depicting St. Helena and St. Brigitte, each carrying a shield with the coats of arms of Belli de Venançon de Provence and De Conink van Gent as well as the Marquis de Vaucouleurs de Lanjamet, Ile de France. There are elaborately shaped Corinthian capped pillars on the corners. The case is surmounted by a bell in a shaped bell strap, on which a silver figure of a lady with a garland is situated.

Duration 1 day

Height 20 cm.
Width 11 cm.
Depth 11 cm.

Literature
– J. Abeler, Meister der Uhrmacherkunst, Wuppertal, 2010, pp. 303, 635 and 653.
– Catalogus “Tijd”, No.220a and b, p. 122 and p. 113.

The maker
Hans Koch was a clockmaker at the court of Albrecht V in Munich. He was master in 1554 and active ate the court of The Duke of Munich from 1557 to 1599. Hans died before 1603. He signed his clock with the punch mark H.K. and the stamp of city of Munich, a monk’s head looking to the right.