Made by Jacob Wideman, Augsburg. Date of birth unknown, died 1664. From a family of well known clockmakers of Augsburg and Mantua.

The fusee driven going train has a verge escapement, formerly with an unsprung balance, but now with balance and hairspring. Two striking trains for quarters and hours are driven by spring barrels and the quarters are sounded on two bells.

Compared with other clocks of the period this one is austere. The hexagonal case lacks the usual engraving and may have been made by Wideman’s principal casemaker, Ludwig Kayser. Apart from the hidden movement, decoration is confined to the silver dial enamelled in champleve style.

This type of table clock was the earliest form of watch and was designed to be carried from room to room and placed on a desk where the owner worked. When being carried between houses, an outer leather case was also provided. The horizontal dial was inconvenient when the clock was not near at hand, but the alarm mechanism could be used to give audible warning of important appointments.

Accession No. 1992.1.67

German Turmuhr Clock, renovation of a mid 17th century original. Made by J. Grohe.

A German Turmuhr Clock, renovation of a mid 17th century original. Made by J. Grohe.

Clocks like this were often produced as 'Masterpieces'. A Journeyman clockmaker would be required to make a clock such as this in order to demonstrate his worthiness for admission to the guild as a Master clockmaker.

This example has been heavily restored at a later date.

Accession No. 1992.1.61

A South German three train gilt metal table clock with a silver horizontal dial by an unknown maker. The movement with striking and alarm train has a verge escapement, with the addition of a later balance and hairspring, c.1600.

The three train movement is driven by spring barrels and the going train was originally made with a stackfreed for controlling the strength of the spring. This was no doubt removed when the escapement was altered for a balance spring.

The square gilt metal case rests on four sitting lions and is richly engraved. A pierced gallery allows the sound of the bell to be heard more distinctly. The corners of the dial are engraved with cherub head spandrels and the silver dial has a Limoges enamelled centre.

Designed to be portable these clocks were used in a similar fashion to a modern watch. They were carried from room to room and placed on a desk where the owner was sitting or working. For greater journeys, they were placed in leather carrying boxes with a glazed panel for the dial.

Accession No. 1992.1.70

A South German, tambour cased clock watch C.1600. By C P (probably Cristoph Plieg of Ulm)

The initials CP stamped into the backplate of this clock watch suggest that the maker was Christoph Plieg of Ulm, working c.1600. 

The varying strength of an uncontrolled coiled spring was a major problem to be overcome in early watches. Although the fusee is the most efficient method, the stackfreed - a powerful curved spring and roller acting on an eccentric cam attached to the spring arbor - was used in Germany until c.1600. The balance (now missing) is unsprung leading to very indifferent timekeeping. The steel count wheel for striking is mounted on the back plate.

The silver and gilt metal case has a cast lid through which the hour hand can be seen. The back is also cast with a double headed Imperial eagle. The silver dial has a champleve enamelled centre of birds and foliage with a gilt metal tulip hand. There are touch pieces for night time reading.

Although in appearance this example is like a large watch, it is unlikely to have been frequently carried on the person; rather it was taken from room to room in a house, hung on the wall or laid on a desk. When outside the home, it would have been carried in a purse or hung on a hook in a carriage.

Accession No. 1992.1.175

This chamber clock was made in Germany c. 1600 and is signed with the initials I.G. but details of the maker are unknown.

The posted iron movement is entirely made from iron except for the later escapement, converted from verge and balance to verge and pendulum. The gilt metal case has a dial with a single hour hand and touch pieces for night time telling. 

The movement has very finely turned iron pillars. The dial is engraved in the centre with a sunburst while on both sides of the side doors are figures representing Saturn, Jupiter, winter and summer.

These small domestic clocks were designed for private apartments, like bed chambers, hence the touch pieces on the dial for telling the time at night.

Accession No. 1992.1.198

Italian Weight Driven Gilt Metal Chamber Clock c.1600. Made by Barocci, Urbino, Italy.

Made by one of the Barocci family of Urbino. Simone Barocci (birth unknown, died 1608) was a superb craftsman who worked for the Duke or Urbino and his Court, but had a reputation for extreme bad temper and dishonesty. Eventually the Duke was so outraged that he threatened to hang him. Simone’s cousin, Giovanni Maria Barocci was an equally famous craftsman who constructed an astronomical clock for Pope Pius V.

This small chamber clock is a direct descendant of the large mediaeval iron chamber clock. (The English equivalent is the lantern clock). It has been converted from a balance controlled verge escapement to pendulum control. The striking train is of the locking plate type.

The gilt metal case is engraved on the dial plate and side doors. The silver dial is similarly engraved. The case and bell are surmounted by turned finials and the feet are more practical than those of the English lantern clock. From the evidence of paintings by Titian, which feature a number of Barocci clocks, the clocks stand on brackets or shelves rather than hanging on a wall.

The Barocci workshops grew in wealth and importance under the patronage of successive Dukes of Urbino who encouraged the application of new technology in the fields of science, architecture and military weapons, as well as art and sculpture.

Accession No. 1992.1.199

A South German gilt metal and ebony clock with an automaton gilt metal lion by Johann Oth of Augsberg

Made by Johann Oth (Hans Otto) Halleicher, Augsburg, c.1650. Born on 23rd November 1612, the son of a protestant pastor, Tobias Halleicher, Johann became established in clockmaking in 1636. He married three times and had one son Matthaus who followed him into the business. He exported clocks to Venice with his journeyman Hans Mehrer and is last mentioned in 1699 as a witness to his son’s marriage.

The three train movement has a fusee driven going train with a verge escapement and balance with hairspring. There are two horizontal dials, the larger one for hours and the smaller for the quarters. The figure of a lion is a common form of automaton. The eyes move from side to side as the clock ticks and the mouth opens and the tongue comes out when the hour is struck.

The ebony case containing the movement stands on bun feet and has glazed panels in the side so that the movement can be observed. The back plate is profusely pierced and engraved. The gilt metal dial plate is richly engraved with silvered dials and is surmounted by the figure of a reclining lion with moving eyes and mouth.

Mechanically operated figures of men and beasts are first recorded by Homer in the 8th century BCE and were frequently constructed in the Middle Ages. The earliest example associated with clocks is the Strasbourg Cathedral crowing cock of 1354. Augsburg clockmakers produced many varieties including griffins, elephants and dogs and Halleicher was a noted maker of them.

Accession No. 1992.1.71