A Japanese wisteria ‘makura-dokei’ striking table clock, circa 1840.

Description

Japanese timekeeping

Until 1873 Japanese timekeeping differed from ours in the West. The day that started with sunrise and ended with sunset was divided in six equal parts. Just as the night that was started at sunset and ended with sunrise. That meant that the day ‘hours’ lasted longer in the summer and were shorter in the winter. And vice versa for the night hours. This so-called temporal timekeeping might appear unlogical to us. But in a society that depends on daylight for its living and working it is practical. One would get up at sunrise, worked with daylight and went to bed when the sun got under. Mechanical clocks were already introduced in the second half of the 16th century by Portugese Jezuit monks. These clocks were mostly from English and Dutch make since the Portugese didn’t have their own clockmaking tradition. Using these as examples the Japanese started to create clocks themselves but had to adapt theirs to the seasonal changing duration of the hours. They divised several systems which enabled them to show the correct temporal time. This beautifully made table clock has a smart system for adapting itself to the changing length of the toki during the year. With other types of Japanese clocks, the movements are made to run faster or slower during the day by adjusting or changing the foliot. This clock, however, has a regular running movement that turns the hand once every twenty-four hours. Instead of changing the rate of the movement, it is the dial that can be adjusted to the temporal hours. The small silvered plaques for the toki can be shifted to indicate the correct time of the season. A small pin at the back of the toki will trip the striking and, in that way, make the clock strike at the right time. Besides this ingenious and interesting system, the clock is also a great example of the craftsmanship for which the Japanese were famous. Just look at the sharp mouldings of the wisteria case and the intricate engraving of the brass parts. Beautiful, ingenious, and interesting; a wonderful object to enjoy.

dial

The revolving dial has silver plaques for the toki and blued plaques for the half toki. It revolves across a fixed foliate pierced blued hand. The dial is set in a finely engraved brass dial adorned with chrysanthemums. Above there are two apertures for the calendar.

Balance

The movement has plates which are connected by finely turned baluster pillars. The going train is driven by a spring barrel in combination with a fusee and chain and is of one day duration. It is being regulated by verge escapement in combination with a balance. The clock has countwheel striking on a bell. Japanese clocks strike the six toki starting with 9 and ending with 4. The half toki’s are indicated with alternating single and double strikes. The top and bottom plate are connected with turned pillars. The whole is mounted on a wooden plinth containing a small drawer in which the winding key is stored.

Wisteria

The brass clock with its wooden base is placed in a wisteria wooden case surmounted by a hinged handle and which has finely made mouldings. Both front and back panel can be slid up. All sides have glass panels while the front and sides are adorned with engraved brass frets. The whole is raised on feet.