LARGE QUARTER STRIKING TÜRMCHENUHR Ca. 1600 Germany

M&R204

LARGE QUARTER STRIKING TÜRMCHENUHR (TABERNACLE CLOCK)
Circa 1600
Germany

Movement
The three-train movement is constructed between brass bars, driven by three springs in brass spring barrels, the going train via a chain fusee, which has a verge escapement and balance. The hour striking mechanism, controlled by a countwheel, indicates the hours in full on a low-pitched bell, while the quarter-hour striking mechanism, also controlled by a countwheel, indicates the quarters on a higher-pitched bell. Finally, the clock has an alarm.

Dial
There are two silver dials on the front dial plate. The top one has a Roman chapter ring with half-hour divisions. The time is indicated by a cut-out blued steel hour hand. Behind this hand is a gilt brass alarm disc with Arabic numerals 1-12, which is beautifully engraved in the centre. The alarm time is indicated by the tail of the hand. Below this dial is another small silver dial, with Roman numerals I-IIII for the quarter hours, which are indicated by a blued steel hand that is also cut out. Lovely motifs are engraved in the centre of the quarter-hour dial. At the back of the clock there are two small silver dials to indicate the state of the striking trains, both with a blued steel hand. The chapter ring with Arabic numerals 1-12 on the right indicates the last hour struck and the left does the same for the quarter hour.

Case
The generously proportioned, gilt copper and brass case rests on four gilt brass bun feet. The case is richly engraved and chased all around with floral and scroll motifs and has removable side panels on two sides that provide access to the movement. The four plain corner pillars have sober capitals and bases. The four corners of the top plate are decorated by beautiful, turned finials in the shape of a vase on a base. The structure at the top consists of three tiers, consisting of two pierced cylindrical bell houses (sound apertures), the lower one for the hour bell and the upper one for the quarter-hour bell. The first floor is seemingly supported by pierced and engraved frets. There are finials in a circle on each floor, while the whole is surmounted by a ball finial with an obelisk.

Duration: 24 hours

Height: 51 cm.
Width: 24 cm.
Depth: 24 cm.

Literature
Similar clocks can be found in:
Klaus Maurice, Die Deutsche Räderuhr, Band II, p. 26, fig. 120-144.