Table clock · Allemagne
Pendule dite "au nègre" à automate
VerifiedA Black person uses a spear to indicate the time on a revolving globe, whose silvered metal equator is engraved with Arabic numerals from 1 to 12 and stars for the half-hours.
Technical facts
- Inventory number
- MIH IV-579
- Object type
- Table clock
- Place of production
- Allemagne
- Dating
- c. 1600
- Materials and techniques (catalogue wording)
- Bronze, Bois, Laiton, Acier
- Dimensions (catalogue)
- diam.: du socle 200.00 mm; Dimensions: hauteur 455.0 cm
Historical significance
- A Black person uses a spear to indicate the time on a revolving globe, whose silvered metal equator is engraved with Arabic numerals from 1 to 12 and stars for the half-hours.
- Supported by a stylised tree trunk, the globe is framed by a wreath decorated with stylised leaves. The partially painted figure is wearing boots, a tunic and a breastplace. In front of him is a running dog. When the clock strikes the hour, the man turns his head and his little companion jumps at each stroke.
- The steel and brass movement is housed in the drum. It has a verge escapement, a fusee and chain, a steel balance with a balance spring and a regulating dial. There is also an S-shaped balance cock, a click, and the hour count-wheel on the plate. The striking-work barrel is engraved with strawberry flowers.
- This exotic clock appears to have been very popular judging by the relatively large number of them still in existence. Whether signed or anonymous, they were all made in Southern Germany.
Photographs
Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.
Sources & references
- Musée international d'horlogerie, online collection record, inv. IV-579: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/36503/
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.