A miniature Austrian Neo Gothic gilt brass mounted ebony ‘brettl’ wall timepiece, circa 1840

Description

The story

Together with the rise of a rich bourgeoisie class, the Gothic style gained more appreciation in the second quarter of the
nineteenth century. After being looked down upon for centuries, the architecture and art from this period was finally given its own merit. Craftsmen now started to look at this style for inspiration, which resulted in the Neo Gothic. This lovely small and very well executed wall timepiece is a fine example of this style. After the forms of the classical art, the trefoils, quatrefoils and pinnacles now became the vocabulary of the artists. The design is emphasized by the colour contrast, which also enlivens the whole. Craftsmanship, combined with good design and beautiful proportions, make this small wall clock a little
treasure for any home.

The dial

5-cm mother-of-pearl dial with a gilt chapter ring having Roman numerals. The trefoil hands are made of blued steel.

The movement

The movement is driven by a small spring barrel that is wound by pulling the pseudo weights. It is regulated by anchor escapement in combination with a silk suspended pendulum with Zeus bob.

The case

The ebonised Neo Gothic style case is surmounted by an architectural pediment with cross flowers and finials. The movement is supported by concave brackets with fine gilt mounts with dog masks. The long tail with arched panel terminates in a neo gothic gilt brass mount.