Gilt-brass cased verge, hour-striking clock-watch

Description — British Museum

CASE: Gilt-brass case, pierced and engraved with scrolling foliate designs around the band and on the back. The band design incorporates birds, a snail and a butterfly and the back includes two birds. Inside the back a bell which is possibly not original. The gilt-brass pendant has been very badly mutilated but the gilt-brass finial appears to be original. Movement frame: Circular gilt-brass plates with four baluster pillars, one now missing. An engraved gadroon border around the edge of the pillar-plate and foliate engraving around the verge aperture. Dial & hand: Gilt-brass dial hinged to the case at 12 o'clock and with three bayonet lugs on the back for attaching the movement. Both sides of the dial have an engraved border of gadroon decoration similar to that on the potence-plate. The engraved chapter ring has Roman hours I-XII and star half-hour marks surrounding a circle of touch-pins. In the middle a finely engraved depiction of The Washing of the Feet. The steel hand is probably original but has been severely pitted and rusted at some time. Mainspring & set-up: Gilt-brass barrel with dovetailed cap and riveted steel hook. The original bow-and-arrow set-up now replaced by a tangent screw system. Fusee & stop-work: Gilt-brass fusee for gut line and with standard stop-work. The fusee has been altered for use with a chain but is probably original. Train: Three wheel train of gilt-brass wheels, the contrate replaced, the great and second wheels probably original. Escapement: Verge escapement, the replacement crown wheel runs between riveted potence and counter-potence. The verge, balance and balance cock are all missing. Striking train: Of the striking train, only the gilt-brass fixed barrel, pierced and engraved on the visible side, and great wheel remain. All the other components, except for the hammer return spring and the star wheel on the dial wheel, are missing. : TRAIN COUNT GOING TRAIN Great wheel:55 Second wheel:45 pinion:5 Contrate wheel:42 pinion:5 Crown wheel:15 pinion:6 : Beats per hour: Unknown because pinion of report is missing. : MOTION WORK/DURATION Pinion of report: missing Dial wheel:54 Fusee: Modified groove : STRIKING TRAIN Only the great wheel remains.

Curator's comments — British Museum

The washing of the Disciples' Feet comes from John, Ch.13 v.4-17.