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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock · Barrel organ longcase clock

Black Forest Longcase Clock with Barrel Organ Movement

Partially verified

This Black Forest tall clock incorporates an 8-day bell-striking timepiece paired with a twenty-one key barrel organ movement dated by the auction house to circa 1840. The organ mechanism features a pinned cylinder configured for eight unidentified airs, along with a single rank of wooden pipes, a vertical five-fin governor with opposing ball weights, and an actuation rod driven from a notched great wheel. Housed in a stained oak case, the structure displays an arched hood, carved floral swags issuing from an urn on the trunk door, an angel head relief, and bun feet on a plinth base.

Front full-length view of the Black Forest barrel organ longcase clock in stained oak
Front full-length view of the Black Forest barrel organ longcase clock in stained oak — Bonhams. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.bonhams.com
Category
Clock · Barrel organ longcase clock
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
12
Source-reported date
movement circa 1840
Country
Germany

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Mechanical Configuration

This Black Forest longcase clock includes an 8-day timepiece that strikes on a bell, paired with a twenty-one key barrel organ movement. The organ utilizes a pinned cylinder measuring 10.75 inches in length and 3.5 inches in diameter, configured to play eight unidentified airs.

The organ mechanism features a single rank of wooden pipes. It is operated by an actuation rod driven by a notched great wheel, with the musical tempo regulated by a vertically-arranged five-fin governor equipped with opposing ball-weight drops.

Evidence for this section
  • “A Black Forest longcase clock with a twenty-one key barrel organ movement”
  • “The barrel pinned for eight unidentified airs, the 8-day timepiece striking on a bell”
  • “single rank of wood pipes, clock actuation rod from notched great wheel and vertically-arranged five-fin governor with opposing ball-weight drops”
  • “the barrel 10.3/4in. (27.2cm), the diameter 3.1/2in. (9cm)”

Case and Exterior Description

The movement is housed in a stained oak case. The hood is panelled with a full-arched top, moulded edges, and opposing side panels featuring raised diamond-form inserts.

Exterior ornamentation includes an angel’s head relief with stylized wing scrolls. The trunk door is decorated with relief work showing floral swags issuing from an urn, while the sides and lower front include cleated fields. The clock stands on bun feet attached to a plinth base.

Evidence for this section
  • “in the fully jointed stained oak trunk”
  • “the panelled hood with full-arched lidded top and moulded edge, opposing side panels with raised diamond-form inserts”
  • “above front angel's head relief with geometric stylised wing scrolls, the door below with repeated relief work of floral swags from an urn”
  • “on plinth base raised on bun feet”

Condition and Preservation

The auction house dates the movement to circa 1840. While the clock dial is missing, the spindle remains present with original hands.

The backboard has been renewed; however, the period original backboard is included with the item.

Evidence for this section
  • “movement circa 1840”
  • “(dial missing, but spindle with original hands present)”
  • “the whole hung (backboard renewed, but period one present)”

Open research questions

  • Are there any manufacturer marks or regional identifiers on the movement frame or pipework?
  • Does the current physical state of the notched great wheel permit operational synchronization between the clock and organ?
  • What is the specific material composition of the governor components?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Black Forest Longcase Clock with Barrel Organ Movement
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement typeTwenty-one key barrel organ movement with 8-day timepiece“a twenty-one key barrel organ movement, movement circa 1840, The barrel pinned for eight unidentified airs, the 8-day timepiece striking on a bell”
Organ specificationSingle rank of wood pipes“single rank of wood pipes, clock actuation rod from notched great wheel and vertically-arranged five-fin governor with opposing ball-weight drops”
Case materialStained oak“in the fully jointed stained oak trunk”
Overall height94 1/2 in. (240 cm)“94.1/2in. (240cm) high”
Barrel dimensions10 3/4 in. long by 3 1/2 in. diameter“the barrel 10.3/4in. (27.2cm), the diameter 3.1/2in. (9cm)”
Total Height94.5 inches (240 cm)“94.1/2in. (240cm) high”

Visible details

  • The glazed hood reveals the exposed wooden barrel organ mechanism, pipework, and movement frame.
  • Carved relief decoration below the hood features a winged cherub head above a waist door panel carved with an urn and floral spray.
  • The clock stands on four rounded bun feet beneath a moulded plinth base.

Research qualifications

  • The source notes that the dial is missing, though the spindle with original hands remains present.
  • The backboard has been renewed, but the period original backboard is included.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Bonhams : A Black Forest longcase clock with a twenty-one key barrel organ movement, movement circa 1840,

Reviewed 2026-10-22 · Record 5c05a39f11

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.