A Jugendstil bronze salon clock, circa 1900, with maker's mark for Lenzkirch, the portico clock with a pointed arch flanked by striking stylised foliate motifs, the bronze dial with Arabic tablet set numerals supported on tapering columns with faux marble to the lower sections, a central column with a pendant husk motif to a pierced bronze and faux marble base with foliate corners; with key and pendulum. Height 38 cm. Width 18.5 cm. Depth 11.5 cm
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- 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.
- Faux - A French word meaning "false", but when used in decorative arts, the intention is not to deceive, but to simulate the decorative effects of the more expensive material it is imitating. The term " faux bois" meaning "false wood" refers to a furniture item that has been decorated with a marked grain (woodgrain finish) to imitate a more expensive timber.
- Jugendstil - The German and Austrian version of the Art Nouveau style and the other related styles that were expanding everywhere in Europe in the early 20th century.
The name was derived from the title of the Munich cultural magazine, "Die Jugend", with the addition of "Stil", which translates as "youth style".
Jugendstil encompasses all forms of architecture and art: industrial facilities, elevated-train systems, villas, churches, as well as the interior design of bars and coffee houses
In Austria, Jugendstil developed also in various ways, mainly under the effect of the Viennese Secession and of the Wiener Werkstätte.
- Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
- Foliate - Decorated with leaves or leaf-like forms.
- Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.
The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.
It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.
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