
Movements & Components · Clock case
Clock case by Frederic Vidal, Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, 1800–1899 (National Museum of Art of Catalonia https___catalonica_bnc_cat_catalonicahub_lod_H701278_ent0)
- Maker / attribution
- Frederic Vidal (creator)
- Date
- 1800–1899
- Historical period
- Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Place
- Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
- Object type
- Clock case
- Holding institution
- National Museum of Art of Catalonia
- Accession / object no.
- https___catalonica_bnc_cat_catalonicahub_lod_H701278_ent0
- Catalogue title (original)
- Clock case (English)
Record summary
Held and catalogued by National Museum of Art of Catalonia (object number https___catalonica_bnc_cat_catalonicahub_lod_H701278_ent0), this is a clock case by Frederic Vidal, made in Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, dated 1800–1899. The Atlas places it in the Precision & Scientific Horology period (1750 – 1850) of its Movements & Components collection. The record is illustrated with 1 photograph.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
The source record does not include a narrative description. The structured fields above are reproduced from it.
Historical context
Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)
Harrison solves longitude; Mudge invents the lever; Breguet's Paris workshop defines the modern watch.
The age of escapement invention: cylinder, duplex, lever, detent and many experimental escapements; compensation balances and fine finishing.
Read the period in the timelineMore movements & components from this periodEarlier: Early Modern Horology
Atlas type guide
Cases, keys and accessories
Clock and watch cases protect the movement and express taste and status. Watch cases were made by separate specialist case-makers whose marks, along with assay hallmarks, help to date and place them. Clock cases were the work of cabinet-makers, bronze founders, ceramic factories and silversmiths, so they belong as much to the history of decorative arts as to horology.
Keys, chatelaines, watch stands, watch papers and winding tools are part of the material culture of timekeeping: they show how timepieces were worn, displayed, wound and maintained.
What to look for
- Case maker's sponsor's marks and assay hallmarks in gold and silver cases.
- Materials: shagreen, tortoiseshell, enamel, porcelain, jasperware, gilt bronze.
- Breguet-style ratchet keys, crank keys and watch-key fobs.
- Engraved names, presentations and dates.
Dating clues
- English hallmark date letters allow exact dating of the case assay.
- Porcelain cases from Meissen and Sèvres: mostly eighteenth century.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Related records
Movements & Components · 1800–1899
Clock case by Frederic Vidal, Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, 1800–1899 (National Museum of Art of Catalonia https___catalonica_bnc_cat_catalonicahub_lod_H715285_ent0)
National Museum of Art of Catalonia
Movements & Components · case ca. 1728–30, movement ca. 1830–50
Clock case by Meissen Manufactory, Germany, case ca. 1728–30, movement ca. 1830–50
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Movements & Components · ca. 1740–60
Watch movement by Charles Cabrier II, United Kingdom, ca. 1740–60
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Movements & Components · 1740-70
Plaster cast of a watch case, made in England in 1740-70
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Movements & Components · late 18th century - 1810
Clock case and pedestal of porcelain, Doccia porcelain factory, Florence, late 18th-early 19th century
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Movements & Components · 1750
Clock movement by Smith, William, England, 1750
Science Museum Group, London
Movements & Components · 1750-1775
Watch movement by Amyot, Peter, England, 1750-1775
Science Museum Group, London
Movements & Components · late 18th century
Watch, Bilston enamel, England, late 18th century
Victoria and Albert Museum, London