Clock, a striking alarm clock in a gilt brass case, Germany, ca.1550.

V&A — Summary

An alarm tabernacle clock in a square gilt-brass case with corner pilasters and projecting foot and cornice surmounted by a bell and a male cymbal player. German, about 1580

V&A — Physical description

Small table clock with gilt-brass case of rectangular form with angle pilasters and projecting foot and cornice; with a bell above enclosed within double arch ornamented with human-headed brackets and surmounted by a male figure beating cymbals, the base and sides engraved and painted with strapwork and arabesque foliage. The iron movement has a verge escapement and steel hands, South German, mid-16th century. Dial: the brass dial has an applied chapter ring 0.6 cm broad with Roman numerals I to XII and half-hour marks. Within this is a sunken ring with 13 to 24 in arabic numerals. The central alarm disc 2.5 cm diameter has arabic numerals 1-12. The modern hand is a crude replacement. The strike dial is also engraved with arabic numberals 1-12 on the rear plate with touch pins and a crude replacement hand. Movement: Going train at front with fusee and train (now completely loose) and verge escapement. The bob pendulum is broken off and missing. All the wheels of steel except for contrate and crown wheels (which are later renewals of brass). The going train fusee arbor continued through the rear plate to a winding hole in the back plate. Locking plate striking train at the rear, with fusee and now with gut line; train all of iron except for brass fanfly. Count-wheel drive by reduction gearing from second wheel of strike train. Alarm train, all of steel, at right rear of movement, wound through a hole low in right side plate of case. Frame of steel, with square pillars and three narrow plates. One vertical pillar stamped AI in escutcheon

V&A — Object history

The clock was one of two beqeathed by J.G.Joicey in 1919 with over thirty watches. Little is known of John George Joicey’s life. He was born in 1863, the youngest son of James Joicey, of Tanfield, Durham, and spent much of his time abroad. When he was in London, he stayed at the Junior Carlton Club, Pall Mall. In 1907 Joicey contacted the Director about depositing on loan a portion of his collection of ceramics, which it was also his intention to bequeath to the Museum. The items were duly exhibited in the Loan Court in 1909. Joicey’s collection comprised Sevres porcelain, English and rare foreign china, gold enamel watches and snuffboxes, inlaid guns and furniture. Joicey died on 8 July 1919, aged 56. The objects already on deposit at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the London Museum, and the Laing Art Gallery became their absolute property; among the residue of object stored at the Chancery Lane Safe Deposit, the Museum was entitled to 'all those of foreign origin'.