Greek Revival Marble Clock with Ormolu Embellishments
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Pendulum - The pendulum was discovered around 1602 by Galileo Galilei, and was adopted for time keeping by the Dutch mathematician and natural philosopher, Christiaan Huygens, who excelled in astronomy, physics, and horology.
The pendulum comprises a metal rod usually of brass or steel with a metal disk, known as a bob, at the end. The movement of the pendulum is driven by weights or a spring, and as a pendulum swings in a regular arc, it was found accuracy could be controlled to within a few seconds a week.
Timekeeping can be adjusted by changing the height of the bob on the rod, making the pendulum either swing slower or faster.
The disadvantage of the pendulum was that changes in temperature also changed the length of the pendulum, interfering with the accuracy of the clock, and so in the 18th century two types of mercurial pendulums were invented which countered the movement in the steel rod.
The pendulum was the world's most accurate timekeeping technology until the invention of the quartz clock, regulated by a quartz crystal, in 1927. - Ormolu - Ormolu was popular with French craftsmen in the 18th and 19th century for ornamental fittings for furniture, clocks and other decorative items. True ormolu is gilt bronze, that is bronze that has been coated with gold using a mercury amalgam. Due to the health risks associated with using mercury, this method of creating ormolu was discontinued in France in the 1830s. A substitute was developed consisting of about 75% copper and 25% zinc, however it was inferior to the bronze version. It was often lacquered to prevent it tarnishing.
Visually similar items
A gilt metal mounted ebonised bracket clock, 19th century, the dial signed J. Foord, Hastings, with a triple fusee movement, quarter strike and hour gong 61.5 cm high
A William IV rosewood and parquetry portico pocket watch holder, with gilt brass mounts and parquetry roundel, 26 cm high
A mid 19th century French mantel clock with painted and jewelled sevres style porcelain urns, and panels depicting falconry hunting scenes. Eight day movement with bell strike. Stamped Chucne with no. 28616. Garnitures incomplete. Height 30 cm
George III longcase clock by John Bishop of Sherborne the arched hood with three brass orb finials and brass columns, painted moonphase, Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds and calendar dials and a mahogany and ebony inlaid case.