A German gilt and silvered hexagonal table clock, J.G. Kriedel Cottbus,1760

Description

day-going movement with petite sonnerie and alarm with repetition, hexagonal gilt and silvered case.

7.4-cm silvered champleve dial with Roman numerals, Arabic numerals for the minutes and marked for the quarters, silvered alarm disc and blued steel hands, day-going spring driven movement with verge escapement and balance under a finely pierced cock, petite sonnerie with two spring barrels, repetition on demand, alarm, backplate signed and dated Johann Gottlieb Kriedel Cottbus 1760, hexagonal engraved gilt brass case, sides with glass panels over a moulded plinth raised on winged ball- and claw feet.

Around the middle of the 16th Century a clock making tradition started in Germany that is renown for its fine workmanship and detail. Although the main centre for production was Augsburg, other towns had clockmakers working in this tradition. These clocks were mostly made for the wealthy few who regarded these clocks as symbols of wealth and esteem. This is illustrated by the fact that many noble figures had their portraits painted with a clock like this one in it. One of the joys of having this clock is opening the bottom lid and looking at the beautifully engraved back plate showing the detail of the workmanship.