Wall and table clocks
08.10.10
At the turn of XIV and XV centuries . began to meet more often made entirely of iron room hours, given load . First, they in their scheme and design elements differ only slightly from the large tower clock.
The original hallmarks of the Gothic hours were simplicity , efficiency , relative ease of construction with an open frame frame without decorations or , later , with decorative elements . Drive the load ( a weight ) is determined not only the shape of hours , but their location – elevated position , necessary to achieve the best possible long course . Wall clock with weights were popular , and later, when it was introduced spring actuator .
By about 1600 appeared in the British watch making so -called alfalfa first iron wall clock , and soon bronze and brass . The name of the clock as if it was caused by the shape of their body ( they were like the old candle lights ), but for a different version of their name originates from the word ” laktten “which then meant ” brass ” . Frame alfalfa hours formed a massive two horizontal plates connected by four corner columns , usually circular . Then the wall with hinged ear visited steel , and removable side doors are usually brass .
The front of the closing hours of dial with a carved steel hands and Roman numerals, engraved in the ring- mezhdukruzhe . The inner metal surface indices , forms the main Dial plate , usually decorated with engraved figures or floral patterns. On the cross forceps , fixed above mechanism, the heads with angular columns frames typically hung powerful bronze bell .
The bottom round bells filled the carved and engraved items , covering a large round horizontal balance, located above the upper plate frames . Old alfalfa clock production of the first half of XVII century. had a spindle down with double-arm balance , exercising the role bilyantsa . In the second half of the same century , this balance began to give way to shorter the pendulum , is ahead of the dial. Most of these alfalfa hours were in the back of the vehicle for another mechanism of the battle with locking wheel. Both mechanisms were given weights , hanging on the ropes, and later – in chains .
Up until the end of the XVII century . alfalfa clock had only clockwise. Dvuhstrelochnye alfalfa clock began to produce only in the XVIII century . and at the same time began to remake the old single-needle dvuhstrelochnye hours . The smaller of these arrows with a circular hole is made at the beginning of the XVIII century . when there was already friction coupling to facilitate the rotation of the arrow , regardless of the mechanism , and in such a form in which even now is an arrow from the wall and table clocks . Despite the fact that alfalfa clock is propelled solely by weights, they can be hung on the wall or put on the table . Together with hanging earring and two support rods at the back iron plate at such hours were four decorative shaped legs in order that they can be put on the table.
In addition to iron Gothic hours a recognized form, is often situated on wall brackets , and alfalfa hours , one of the oldest types of clocks and watches are in the form of plates. Their first copies appeared in Germany very early, at the end of XVI century . Their name has happened to the characteristic appearance of round, like a plate, dial. The mechanism of such clocks had spindle descent with a short pendulum to dial. During the XVIII century. was built many such riveted , carved or painted a different kind of clock .
Setting the clock on the wall console belongs to the Gothic era . Then the clock is propelled solely by a weight , and therefore played a great bracket functional role . Several other value bracket acquired later – about the middle of the XVIII century . when in France spread to other European countries the construction of the console wall clock with a spring drive . Wooden console has become an integral part of the watch and made out with him in the same sense of style and ornament.
The greatest perfection , and the largest fine of wealth reached the French ” kick ” (” pendulum “) , so called because clearly seen in the constricted and then expanding the bottom of the glass body of the pendulum . The prevalence of different elements and metal appliques adorning the watch case and created a spectacular ensemble , which can be used either as a wall clock or by removing the console as a desktop clock .
Under Louis XV and Louis XVI of France appeared on the fashion wall ” cartel ” watch . They are sophisticated in form , decorated with leaf ornament body originally cast in bronze by then gilded . On Czechoslovak soil in this type of clock there were elements of classical style and elements of the rococo, then the expensive metal casting of steel to replace wood carvings , artistic value of which was not less .
In the second half of XVIII century . in the heyday of interest in figure booths and playing hours , a new version of the wall clock , clock movement which is usually inserted into artistically painted composition with landscape or architectural themes, inscribed in gilded frame. Of the “big picture clock ” a little later , at the beginning of XIX century. evolved frame clock stereotypical patterns . The most significant and most expensive part of the clock was ticking along with a gilded frame in the style of Biedermeier or late Rococo.
The most common and most late type of wall clocks were called ” pendelovki ” (” pendulum ” clock ) , which were produced mainly in Austria in the late XVIII century. and the beginning of XIX century. Austrian watchmakers started from a tetrahedral rectangular glass-fronted building , decorated with carved ornaments , while the model for similar hours of American origin were more complex line shape of some musical instruments – banjo, dulcimer , etc. Wall clocks , too, have many options. The most interesting of them was a clock , which differ mainly in the appearance of their buildings, but the hours differ and technical characteristics, influence the configuration of their body .
In the XVI century. , in the heyday of the Renaissance in Central Europe , a large popular desktop clock with a spring -driven , embedded in a closed box with carved and engraved ornaments. They began to produce the new material for that time – brass and bronze , which are approximately half of the XVI century. began in watchmaking familiar materials due to their outstanding qualities in terms of cutters and engravers . Good experience with the production of brass and bronze boxes for watches watchmakers led to the idea of replacing some parts of the mechanism of hours being worked previously entirely of iron , brass and bronze details .
This primarily refers to the gears , drum to the springs, snails , etc. Brass, which is easy to work and strong, and proved to be valuable in terms of improved aesthetic appearance of the clock , and it is inextricably connected hour technique with artistic activity, attracting the participation in the production of hours of many goldsmiths , engravers , engravers , painters .
One of the most characteristic features of desktop clock XVI and XVII centuries . were relatively slender rectangular or hexagonal body with a metal bell at the top. Typically, the surface of these shells decorated engraved , carved , flat or relief pattern , often figured . Inboard mechanisms solved when the two possible ways . In the first method based mechanism was bunk frame with undercarriage mechanism in the upper part and the mechanism of the battle at the bottom .
These parts were divided platinum with holes for the pins vertical axes of both mechanisms . Describe the type of clock with vertical axes and bunk frame is typical for the early hours of the French , whose production was then concentrated in yuzhnofrantsuzskoy area around Blois , in the late XVI century . – And for the Swiss and Italian hours.
Another type of clock time , maybe even younger , but who enjoyed great popularity even in the subsequent period of early baroque were the so- called clock tower . They appeared in the second half of XVI – early XVII century. of time points in Augsburg and Nuremberg. They are distinguished by a remarkable harmony of the mechanical properties with characteristic architectural elements of Renaissance and early Baroque . These yuzhnogermanskie hours long influenced watchmaking throughout Central Europe. They had a frame with vertical angle columns, fixed on the top and bottom plates. Rollers and mechanism of the battle were placed one after another in the same plane.
As the French clock here at the top of the tower-shaped hull was space for the bell , suspended or on the carved arm guide assembly crossed forceps, or by being back on a special bracket. Some of the most beautiful tower clock , built in 1549 in Prague clockmaker Hanus Shgeynmeysselem are even now part of the collection of Industrial Arts Museum in Prague. They are rare surviving evidence of high -level Czech watchmaking in the period preceding the era of Rudolph.
The tower clock is often characterized by high artistic treatment, but also a high technical level . In addition to the normal mechanisms , they sometimes have special dials to measure the stellar and solar time , to observe the phases of the moon, had the scale for the image of the sun and moon in the zodiac calendar , and various dials . The motion of the planets , some watchmakers play even non-circular elliptical gear mechanism.
From those days of workshops Augsburg watchmakers out as excellent copies of graphic clock with moving figures of musicians, ancient gods , warriors , or different animals – lions, elephants, parrots , etc. Complexity of these machines , the builders who dare to use to display the time along with the classic single-needle dials various rotary dials for the cylindrical or spherical surfaces, independent of the functional diagram of the kinematic mechanisms , are often extremely complex .
For example , such a watch as a stroller with a pair or four horses moved in beating hours on the table , while simultaneously moving all the pieces that were in a wheelchair. No less difficult was shaped mechanism in the other hours , for example in the form of a boat. Most of these desktop automatic watches , made of bronze, brass or wood and metal at the same time , reached a significant size . Their length ranged from 60 to 90 cm blocks of the clock there were still dudochnye or bell musical arrangements, the progress which has been synchronized with the clock mechanism .
Application of moving figures , of course, in a simplified scheme , without complex automation, continued in a later time . French or Viennese table clock with cast bronze and gilt figural plastic XVIII century. mock biblical figures or scenes from ancient mythology . In the XIX century. These motifs have given way to romantic scenes, especially the so- called ” hours “On Sauvage ยป(aux sauvages), decorated with figures of blacks, Indians , etc. With a tradition shaped automaton hours XVI and XVII centuries. were related to hours with allegorical motifs , for these hours were characterized by a combination mechanism of battle with shaped mechanism .
The second half of XIX century . reflected on the architecture of the clock-case and boxes repetition of elements of previous styles, flowing into pseudo- stylistic imitation with pronounced elements of Renaissance and Rococo. Only in the late XIX century. began again to dominate stylistic consistency , accompanied by features of the creative expressions and individual artistic inventiveness .
With the advent of the Baroque entered horology especially new forms of the watch. The increasing influence of the church was manifested in the use of symbols of Christianity , and particularly popular watches in the form of a cross or pyx .
These clocks, produced in the late XVI century . and in the first three decades of the XVII century . cast bronze , were cases decorated with carved or cast ornament. In these hours clockwork often be combined with astrolabes. In the second half of XVII century. appeared kurantnye clock with transparent dials , lit in the evening lamps or candles .
At the beginning of XVIII century. England began to export to Europe table ” tabernaklovye ” watch. In France, the likeness of those hours were so -called religiezy (somewhat reminiscent of his appearance facades of churches ) , a case of such a watch was rectangular , glass-enclosed , often ending a mansard roof over the dial . These clocks were usually carrying handle them . Dial plate , decorated with riveted ornament , supplied with a semi-circular shield for the shooter battle , sometimes it was different and calendar data . These watches have become very popular in Europe ( their yuzhnogermanskaya modification is known as the ” old Germanic clock “) .
The group dockside hours is a lot of types of desktop clock . The largest category of them form a cylinder clock , most of which simply consist of a supporting frame with a wooden or bronze case and a pair or quartet bearing support columns . Stained wood surface cylinder clock was ousted in the 20- ies of XIX century. black lacquer , fine, elegant shape alabaster columns were replaced in the Biedermeier much more massive profiles .
Tags: alfalfa clock, bronze bell, cylinder clock, desktop clock, Dial plate, pendulum, table clocks, the Gothic hours