Clocks · Mantel clock
Mantel clock, c. 1720-1730
- Maker / attribution
- Unrecorded in source
- Date
- c. 1720-1730
- Historical period
- Early Modern Horology (1600 – 1750)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Mantel clock
- Dimensions
- Höhe: 59.2 cm, Breite: 37.5 cm
- Holding institution
- Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe
- Accession / object no.
- R 711 (Inventarnummer)
- Credit line
- Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe
- Catalogue title (original)
- Kaminuhr (R 711) (German)
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Record summary
Held and catalogued by Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe (object number R 711 (Inventarnummer)), this is a mantel clock, dated c. 1720-1730. The Atlas places it in the Early Modern Horology period (1600 – 1750) of its Clocks collection. Recorded dimensions: Höhe: 59.2 cm, Breite: 37.5 cm. The record is illustrated with 2 photographs.
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
Catalogue description from Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe
Die Uhr gehörte einst zur Ausstattung des Karlsruher Schlosses. Ihr arkadenförmiges, konkav eingezogenes Gehäuse steht auf Volutenfüßen. Die Vorderfront ist beinahe ganz durch eine vergaste Tür eingenommen. Auch die Seitenteile sind verglast. Auf dem Gehäuse sitzt ein gestufter Aufsatz, der vasenförmig endet. Außen- und Innenseite der Uhr sind mit feingliedrigen eingelegten Messung- und Zinnornamenten reich dekoriert. Das runde Zifferblatt trägt im Zentrum eine geprägte und vergoldete Scheibe. Es gibt die Stunden in römischen und die Minuten in arabischen Ziffern an. Stunden- und Minutenzeiger sind aus gesägtem Eisenblech. Ein aus vergoldeter Bronze gefertigter Kopf des Apollo im Strahlenkranz ziert das Pendel. Solche kleinen Uhren konnten auf Tischen, Konsolen, Kaminen oder Kommoden aufgestellt werden und waren seit dem 16. Jahrhundert sehr beliebt. Im Vergleich zu den großen Standuhren wirken sie verkürzt oder „gestutzt“, weshalb sie auch Stutzuhren genannt werden.
Shown in the original language of the source catalogue. An editor-reviewed English translation has not yet been published; we do not publish machine translations as authoritative text.
Historical context
Early Modern Horology (1600 – 1750)
Huygens' pendulum and balance spring transform accuracy; English makers develop the anchor and deadbeat escapements.
Huygens's pendulum (1656–57) improved clock accuracy from about a quarter of an hour to under a minute a day. The anchor escapement (c. 1670) and the long seconds pendulum created the longcase clock; London makers such as Fromanteel, Knibb, Tompion and Quare led European clockmaking, and French makers created the Boulle pendule.
Read the period in the timelineMore clocks from this periodEarlier: Renaissance Horology
Atlas type guide
Mantel and French pendule clocks
The mantel clock — the French pendule de cheminée — is as much decorative art as timekeeper. From the late seventeenth century Parisian clockmakers worked with cabinet-makers, bronze founders and gilders (ciseleurs-doreurs) to create cases in Boulle marquetry, gilt bronze and marble, while the movements were often supplied by specialist makers. Clocks of the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI periods, and Empire clocks with allegorical figures, set fashions copied across Europe.
The nineteenth century industrialised the type. The 'Paris movement', a standardised round movement with silk-thread or Brocot suspension and count-wheel striking, was made in huge numbers by firms such as Japy and Vincenti, and fitted into cases of every style and material.
What to look for
- Round 'Paris' movements with makers' stamps (e.g. Japy Frères, Vincenti, S. Marti) and medal marks from exhibitions.
- Suspension type: silk thread (earlier) or Brocot adjustable suspension (after c. 1840).
- Visible Brocot escapement on the dial in later clocks.
- Fire-gilt (mercury) gilding on bronzes versus later electro-gilding.
- Signed dials naming a retailer rather than the movement maker.
Dating clues
- Silk-suspension Paris movements: c. 1800–1850.
- Brocot suspension and visible escapements: after c. 1840.
- Exhibition medal stamps on movements give dates after the medal year.
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.
Read next:Anchor (recoil) escapement
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