Renaissance, Baroque iron clock, Hinterzappler spindle escapement, Sweden, c. 1660/70
Price €2,950
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Key facts
- Country of manufacture
- Sweden
- Production time
- around 1660
Description
A rare, museum-quality, unique late Renaissance iron clock dating from around 1660/1670, marked V-S-G-S Malmö, Sweden, with filed gear teeth. Movement of frame construction made from forged iron with wedged plates, three-lobed brass wheels (crown wheel still in several parts, lobes riveted to the rim; teeth still filed by hand), pin-triggered lock-disc striking mechanism at the top of the hour, iron wind vane, hand mechanism with iron wheels, original spindle wheel and spindle with pear-shaped pendulum, winding via cord nuts, very fine early bell, flared base. The movement was dismantled, carefully derusted, the running surfaces polished as far as possible, and the surfaces treated with linseed oil, as was customary at the time. The brass plates and the dial were cleaned with black olive soap to preserve the original patina. The clock ran for several hours as a test; the accuracy was less than 1 min/h. On the front, a very beautiful brass plate with floral engraving and a mounted tin numeral ring; beneath the VI, the inscription ‘V-S-G-S’. The movement shows clear signs of wear (the pinions are worn down, some of which have already been repaired), but this is quite typical for its age. Most parts are original; the bell nut has been replaced, as have the side doors and a few smaller springs, whilst everything else appears to be original. 4 replacement weights Height 32 cm Width 20 cm Depth 16 cm Unfortunately, I was unable to identify the clockmaker. I have never seen a similar clock from Sweden; in terms of construction, this one bears a closer resemblance to the Augsburg or South German clocks from the 16th century, however, this clock still has the original spindle escapement – a wheel escapement was never fitted here – as well as the concentrically arranged hands, which suggests a date around 1660, though perhaps slightly later into the 1670s.