The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 64

Drum ClockGerman, circa 1550.Extremely rare and important very early gilt metal drum clock with iron movement.

CHF 40,000 - 50,000

USD 25,000 - 30,000

Sold: CHF 82,700

C. Drum-shaped, friction-fit back cover, fixed top forming the dial. The back cover centred with an engraved head of a man with an Imperial crown signed 'JVLIVS', framed by a pattern reminiscent of a laurel leaf crown. The band engraved with three rectangular cartouches with foliage within a continuous frame arching after each cartouche, the top and bottom where the arches intertwine engraved with the same type of foliage. The top and bottom covers with stepped edges. D. Twelve tactile knob markrs for night reading, concentric outer ring with Roman chapters from I to XII, innermost chapter ring with Arabic numerals from 12 to 24 in the German style. The centre engraved with wind rose and sun-ray motif. Single iron 'fleur de lis' hand with brass knob at the tip for setting and reading the time. M. Circular, 50.6 mm o, entirely of iron, full pillar plate, skeletonised back plate, three pillars of triangular cross-section with rectangular bases, twelve turn fusee and gut-line, verge escapment, circular foliot with two hog bristles mounted on pivoted arm for adjustment, four-wheel train (fusee 54, 45/6, 35/5, 15/5). One pillar holds the bridge for the escape wheel and the contrate wheel. The escape wheel is held by a U-shaped wire between the outer ends.Diam. 58 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, page 26-27.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 8 - 12 - 15
Movement: 3 - 7 - 8*
Dial: 3 - 8 - 15 - 02

Notes

Very few of these early drum watches have survived. An example in the Museum of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers is strikingly similar, with the same type of bracket bridges, the same skeletonised back plate, and the back also engraved with the bust of a warrior with a wreath, perhaps depicting Caesar. However it is stamped 'C' on the back plate. Clearly, both came from the same school, if not from the same workshop. It shows the extent of cooperation between German watchmakers. Another clok of the same type, but with a stackfreed, is in the British Museum, and a third, of French origin, was in the Time Museum. The clock is a miniature of the table clocks of the period and resembles the work of Jakob Marquart of Augsburg, in a clock in the Adler Planetarium, Chicago.