Long-case Clocks

Musical clock with organ mechanism and automaton

    Musical clock with organ mechanism and automaton

    Germany

    Circa 1860

    Wood, brass, steel, enamel; casting, carpentry, silvering, wood carving, mechanical work

    80 x 60 x 36 cm

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    Long case clock in mahogany veneered polished wooden frame is mounted on oak wood latticed pedestal. The case façade is in the form of a pictorial image in rectangular frame with narrow dark layouts. Monochrome depiction of military operations involving ancient artillery on the painting background. The image of two symmetrically arranged heraldic lions resting their front paws on the glazed clock face built into the painting are on the foreground, white dove with outstretched wings is above them. Enamel dial with Roman numerals hours’ graduation; with Arabic numerals for minutes’ graduation (every fifth minute) and two central straight hands. Automaton in the form of brass band consisting of six figures of musicians in uniform coats and caps is on the upper case upper side. Wooden frame-shaped backdrop is behind the figures. Painted landscape with the river and rural houses in the foreground and mountains in the background is in the frame. Organ pipes are placed behind the backdrop. Dial indicating the number of the melody to be played with digits from 1 to 8, pinned wooden barrel lock, a handle for lifting the weights and two knobs for the organ register loops are on the case left side. Pinned wooden barrel, secured by the hinged brass spring lock is loaded through ornately shaped window on the case right side. A chain with weights, a pendulum and a cord for manually starting the automaton are taken out through the apertures in the case bottom. The automaton and organ are switched on every hour at the signal of the clock – the figures of musicians start to move, the organ plays one of eight melodies.
    Musical media is pinned wooden barrel.


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    Инв.1061/ММП