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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Component · Clock weight

Iron weight for a clock movement

Partially verified

This object is a cylindrical weight designed for an iron gear clock movement, dated between circa 1590 and circa 1596. It is constructed from metal and features an iron hook on the top for suspension. The weight is currently documented by the Rijksmuseum as part of a group of related items associated with the Behouden Huis expedition. The museum catalog identifies the object specifically as a component belonging to a clock assembly alongside numbers NM 7687, 7689, and 7688. Its provenance is linked to the historical context of the Barentz and Van Heemskerck expedition.

A tube-shaped iron weight with a hook at the top.
A tube-shaped iron weight with a hook at the top. — Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.rijksmuseum.nl
Category
Component · Clock weight
Maker / attribution
anoniem
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
NG-NM-7688
Source-reported date
ca. 1590 - ca. 1596
Source-reported place
Not established

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

Physical Description and Function

The object is defined as a weight, specifically created for use with a gear clock mechanism. It is shaped as a cylinder or tube, a common form for weights designed to descend within a clock case or housing. Attached to the top of this cylindrical body is an iron hook, which facilitates its connection to the movement's drive system.

The material is specified as iron, providing the necessary density to power the gear train of the clock. Its design is strictly utilitarian, prioritizing the mechanical function of storing and releasing potential energy for the timekeeping device to which it was originally attached.

Evidence for this section
  • “Gewicht van een raderuurwerk, kokervormig met aan de bovenzijde een haakje van ijzer.”

Historical Context and Association

The weight is catalogued by the Rijksmuseum as an integral part of a collection of items, which includes other components identified as NM 7687 and NM 7689. These items are associated with a broader historical narrative involving a clock used during a historical expedition.

The dating of the weight, between approximately 1590 and 1596, aligns with the period of the expedition led by Barentz and Van Heemskerck. The museum records these items together, suggesting they formed a functional unit used in the Behouden Huis.

Evidence for this section
  • “Behorend bij nr. NM 7687, 7689 en 7688.”
  • “In het Behouden Huis werd hij opgehangen om in de lange poolnacht nog enig besef van tijd te hebben.”

Attribution and Identification

The production of the object is attributed to an anonymous maker. No specific workshop or craftsman is identified in the primary documentation provided by the institution, maintaining its status as a piece of period equipment from the late sixteenth century.

The administrative record confirms its identification within the national collection, citing the object number NG-NM-7688. This ensures that the weight is distinct from other timekeeping components managed within the repository.

Evidence for this section
  • “anoniem, ca. 1590 - ca. 1596”
  • “Objectnummer NG-NM-7688”

Open research questions

  • What are the specific dimensions and weight of this component?
  • Does the physical wear pattern on the hook indicate a specific type of connection to the movement's gut line or chain?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Iron weight for a clock movement
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Object numberNG-NM-7688“NG-NM-7688”
Object typeWeight of a wheel clock“Gewicht van een raderuurwerk”
MaterialIron“Gewicht van ijzeren raderuurwerk”
MakerAnonymous“anoniem”
ConstructionTube-shaped with a top hook“kokervormig met aan de bovenzijde een haakje van ijzer”
Datingc. 1590 - c. 1596“ca. 1590 - ca. 1596”

Visible details

  • Cylindrical, tube-like shape
  • Attached iron hook at the top
  • Textured, weathered metallic surface

Research qualifications

  • Association with specific numbered items NM 7687 and 7689 remains partially ambiguous in the primary text
  • The exact metallurgical composition is not explicitly detailed beyond being described as iron/metal

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

Consulted source

Clock and gunpowder horn, c. 1590–c. 1596 (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, NG-NM-7688)

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 6ab066f22b

Terms in this record

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

Other clock weight records