VR-341 - Altdeutsche Austrian week-running Granne-Sonnerie striking Vienna Regulator by Marenzeller
Ignaz Marenzeller is one of the better known of the best Viennese clock makers, a name that is synonymous with the best of the Vienna Regulators. When you look at a clock by one of the better makers you expect to find signs of quality that marks the piece as something special. This clocks pulleys, 5 pound bob, locking screws to keep the mechanisms seat board in the exact right position, door which is set back into the case, and overall extremely high quality case make it clear its maker went out of his way to make special pieces.
This imposing three-weight Vienna’s case is in excellent, 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, key-lock door, so many little details that bespeak the quality of the clock.
As one would expect with an Austrian piece, the case is quite heavy, the fluted columns are complete columns, not half or three-quarter as seen on German pieces, the lines are narrow, elegant, and the carving is wonderful. Let me repeat, the carving, both to the top and bottom of the columns, and the lovely little details to the head piece is really exceptional.
I was amazed as I looked at this case to see the complexity of every piece of molding - no simple curves, every piece has added steps and curves, no matter how small. 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 somewhat dirty condition, with the shade of walnut that looks so very good on Vienna Regulators. Note the robust, unusual and matching pulleys, correct weights, in great condition, the zinc-backed pendulum bob that weighs more than the weight driving the time train, the original and perfect beat scale, wall stabilizers, weights (in excellent condition) and very early-style hands - these hands are a lovely retro feature reflecting the focus of a maker of Marenzellers stature - harking back to the quality of earlier periods.
The dial, with its grommeted winding holes, has a number of hairline cracks that will virtually disappear when the dial is properly cleaned. The hands are perfect, and are 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 Altdeutsche 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 MoreThis imposing three-weight Vienna’s case is in excellent, 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, key-lock door, so many little details that bespeak the quality of the clock.
As one would expect with an Austrian piece, the case is quite heavy, the fluted columns are complete columns, not half or three-quarter as seen on German pieces, the lines are narrow, elegant, and the carving is wonderful. Let me repeat, the carving, both to the top and bottom of the columns, and the lovely little details to the head piece is really exceptional.
I was amazed as I looked at this case to see the complexity of every piece of molding - no simple curves, every piece has added steps and curves, no matter how small. 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 somewhat dirty condition, with the shade of walnut that looks so very good on Vienna Regulators. Note the robust, unusual and matching pulleys, correct weights, in great condition, the zinc-backed pendulum bob that weighs more than the weight driving the time train, the original and perfect beat scale, wall stabilizers, weights (in excellent condition) and very early-style hands - these hands are a lovely retro feature reflecting the focus of a maker of Marenzellers stature - harking back to the quality of earlier periods.
The dial, with its grommeted winding holes, has a number of hairline cracks that will virtually disappear when the dial is properly cleaned. The hands are perfect, and are 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 Altdeutsche 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!
