VR-313 - Altdeutsche Austrian week-running Grand Sonnerie striking Vienna Regulator
This imposing three-weight Vienna is in, dare I say, perfect, original condition. When I look at a Vienna Regulator I can often tell it is German of Austrian-made just by its feel - how the case “comes together”, how narrow, or even elegant. Then, as my eye picks out the tell-tale details, the inset window panes, the carving visibly nicer than the Black Forest style, a key-lock door, so many little details that bespeak the quality of the clock.
OK. So I like all the clocks I get to sell, some just speak to me more than others.
The Altdeutsche period produced cases that followed the logical progression from the stark simplicity of the Biedermeier through the restrained adornments of the transitional, to the exuberant glory of the Altdeutsche. And this clock, with its wonderful shingled roof and pair of carved birds to its base, is pretty darned exuberant!
As one would expect with an Austrian piece, the case weighs more than one would imagine, the fluted columns are complete columns, not half or three-quarter as seen on German pieces, the lines are narrow - I sometimes feel that the Austrian case makers went out of their way to see how many different pieces they could use to make the case just that much more complex.
The finish is in lovely, original, albeit dirty condition, with the shade of walnut that looks so very good on Vienna Regulators. Note the delicate and matching pulleys, correct and good condition weights, the zinc-backed pendulum bob in excellent condition (remember that by this time, most makers were going over to the less-expensive steel-backed bobs), the original and perfect beat scale, original wall stabilizers and lovely engraved mechanism mounting brackets.
The dial, with its narrow chapter ring and grommeted winding holes, has no hairline cracks or chips. The hands are in great shape, appear to be original to the clock, all of the glass is old, as is the wooden-handled winding key, and the key for the door lock.
If you want one of the nicest granne-sonnerie striking Vienna Regulator, and you like the narrower lines so well represented by this clock... well... I guess you should buy this one!
Read MoreOK. So I like all the clocks I get to sell, some just speak to me more than others.
The Altdeutsche period produced cases that followed the logical progression from the stark simplicity of the Biedermeier through the restrained adornments of the transitional, to the exuberant glory of the Altdeutsche. And this clock, with its wonderful shingled roof and pair of carved birds to its base, is pretty darned exuberant!
As one would expect with an Austrian piece, the case weighs more than one would imagine, the fluted columns are complete columns, not half or three-quarter as seen on German pieces, the lines are narrow - I sometimes feel that the Austrian case makers went out of their way to see how many different pieces they could use to make the case just that much more complex.
The finish is in lovely, original, albeit dirty condition, with the shade of walnut that looks so very good on Vienna Regulators. Note the delicate and matching pulleys, correct and good condition weights, the zinc-backed pendulum bob in excellent condition (remember that by this time, most makers were going over to the less-expensive steel-backed bobs), the original and perfect beat scale, original wall stabilizers and lovely engraved mechanism mounting brackets.
The dial, with its narrow chapter ring and grommeted winding holes, has no hairline cracks or chips. The hands are in great shape, appear to be original to the clock, all of the glass is old, as is the wooden-handled winding key, and the key for the door lock.
If you want one of the nicest granne-sonnerie striking Vienna Regulator, and you like the narrower lines so well represented by this clock... well... I guess you should buy this one!
