A very rare gilt quarter striking alarm clock with automaton of a hound


South German, early 17th centuryDepicting a reclining hound with animated eyes and tail, resting next to a dial with I – XII, 13 – 24 silver chapter ring within a gilt bezel calibrated in quarters, a gilt alarm setting disc in the center, pierced blued iron hand to indicate quarters concentric with a similar shorter hour hand with pointer to indicate alarm timeThe movement with rectangular brass plates joined by six steel pillars of square section, three separately wound trains with exposed springs for going and quarter and hour striking, the going train with blued stop work, verge escapement with hog bristle regulation to a massive two arm balance, comma shaped steel cock, two bells mounted in base, striking the quarters on the larger bell by means of a numbered gilt count wheel with pin to trip the nag's head hour detent linked to numbered blued hour count wheel with internal gearing, the alarm train with open spring barrelEyes linked to a snail cam fixed to the crown wheel arbor causing them to flick back and forth with each revolution of the crown wheel. A snail cam is in the striking train for the tail.
|Literature:Maurice, Klaus.Die deutsche Räderuhr v. 2, p52 and figs. 332-337Maurice, Klaus and Otto Mayr, The Clockwork Universe: German Clocks and Automata, 1550 – 1650., pp 266-267The present clock is an example of the automaton clocks produced in Germany during the first half of the 17th century. Clock makers had yet to devise a reliable way to regulate the going rate of a clock movement. Instead, clocks often relied on elaborate gearing or automated figures to amuse their owners.This gave rise to clocks depicting mythical characters, or exotic animals or, like the present example, a vigilant faithful hound with rolling eyes and wagging tail.The published examples of the dozen or so surviving clocks have closely similar models of the hound. At least one example, in silver, is designed as a drinking cup. However, each of the movements and bases are noticeably different, suggesting a common source of a sculpture which, in turn, was supplied to various clockmakers. The most common automation is the movement of the eyes with the mouth "barking" with the striking.The present clock is perhaps unique, among known examples, in having an automated tail in addition to eyes. The movement is also more complicated than the group described by Maurice. It is both quarter striking and fitted with an alarm. Not incidentally, the hand indicating the quarters moves continuously serving as a de facto early minute hand.