VR-319 - Floor-standing Granne-sonnerie Vienna Regulator by Johann Wolkenstein, Wien.
Johann Wolkenstein was one of the best makers from the latter part of the nineteenth century, certainly not as prolific as Schoenberber, or Marenzeller, both of whom had a large number of apprentices, hence a significant number or clocks today bear their names. Not so Wolkenstein: While rarer, his pieces are of the highest quality, as is this Jugendstil-period piece.
Claterbos tells us that Johann had his shop at Schottengeldgasse 42, in Vienna’s District VII in 1881. By 1913 he had passed away. The mechanism in this piece is a phenomenal example of one of the better makers of the Jugendstil period! It combines the simplicity of an oak, Jugendstil-period case with the finest of Viennese mechanisms.
The case reflects the European intelligentsia’s break from the historical furniture patterns, the rejection of all the visual excess of the Altdeutsche period. Some have commented this piece looks like an Empire period, or perhaps early Biedermeier with its clean, austere lines. The cases rounded corners, beveled glass, and copper trim present a very up to date feel, yet maintain the quality for which Jugendstil pieces are so justifiably known. I was particularly taken with the furring strips around the windows - beautifully finished, and sized so they form a perfect bead around the window opening. In contrast with the cases simplicity we find the phenomenal mechanism, complete with the very unusual ladder chain drive.
Complete, and very original, this clock has a surprisingly heavy bob, perfect pendulum rod, locking doors to the trunk and the base (complete with key), strikes on two steel rods (producing a deeper, more melodious tone than the coiled gongs on most Vienna Regulators), and has about as perfect a mechanism as I have ever seen. In fact, I included one picture of the escapement just to show how a Vienna Regulator mechanism should look. Please realize that the anchor and escape wheel in the picture are actually the reflection from the front plate! I always use the reflection to judge the depthing of the pallets: You can see so much more in the reflection than you can by looking straight down into the mechanism.
If you are looking for something unusual, but of the highest caliber, this clock could well be your cup of tea.
Read MoreClaterbos tells us that Johann had his shop at Schottengeldgasse 42, in Vienna’s District VII in 1881. By 1913 he had passed away. The mechanism in this piece is a phenomenal example of one of the better makers of the Jugendstil period! It combines the simplicity of an oak, Jugendstil-period case with the finest of Viennese mechanisms.
The case reflects the European intelligentsia’s break from the historical furniture patterns, the rejection of all the visual excess of the Altdeutsche period. Some have commented this piece looks like an Empire period, or perhaps early Biedermeier with its clean, austere lines. The cases rounded corners, beveled glass, and copper trim present a very up to date feel, yet maintain the quality for which Jugendstil pieces are so justifiably known. I was particularly taken with the furring strips around the windows - beautifully finished, and sized so they form a perfect bead around the window opening. In contrast with the cases simplicity we find the phenomenal mechanism, complete with the very unusual ladder chain drive.
Complete, and very original, this clock has a surprisingly heavy bob, perfect pendulum rod, locking doors to the trunk and the base (complete with key), strikes on two steel rods (producing a deeper, more melodious tone than the coiled gongs on most Vienna Regulators), and has about as perfect a mechanism as I have ever seen. In fact, I included one picture of the escapement just to show how a Vienna Regulator mechanism should look. Please realize that the anchor and escape wheel in the picture are actually the reflection from the front plate! I always use the reflection to judge the depthing of the pallets: You can see so much more in the reflection than you can by looking straight down into the mechanism.
If you are looking for something unusual, but of the highest caliber, this clock could well be your cup of tea.
