VR-377 - Serpentine 1 weight Austrian Vienna Regulator
The serpentine-style Vienna Regulators offer a fluid contrast to the architectural precision of the Altdeutsche period. While both styles were produced over roughly the same period, it is the Serpentines that give us the almost 1930's flowing lines that almost feel like they were ahead of their time.
This Austrian-made piece exemplifies the faux finishing that was done in the third quarter of the nineteenth century. With its deep maroon background, and its artfully-applied false graining, this piece leaves you with the impression of a strongly-grained rosewood or mahogany case. The colors are so wonderfully vibrant - so many of the clocks we find are muted, faded by the ultraviolet light from the sun. It is very refreshing to find a clock like this in its original glory. In fact, you could consider it a history lesson - given that there are so very many clocks that have been faded to a brown or yellow hue. And, while the finish is in excellent condition, it could use a good cleaning to bring out the beauty of both the finish and the color.
The mechanism is of the quality one expects from a Viennese-made piece. It always amazes me how perfectly the wheels, pinions, pivots and escapement are made. These clocks reflect the ultimate benefit of the Viennese clock-maker guilds - assurance of the very high standards that we respect today.
While the dial center has a couple of very fine hairline cracks that are barely noticeable, the chapter ring is perfect. As are the fine hands, weight and the pendulum bob. Fortunately this clock also has its original wall stabilizers, painted beat-scale, and old, wavy and bubbly glass throughout.
Note too the unusual pulley. And yes, you can see in the photo, the gut weight lines are a bit frayed, and need to be replaced when the mechanism gets its well-deserved cleaning.
This clock is an excellent example of the condition in which we like to find clocks in Austria, untouched, but also preserved. Dirty, but with excellent underlying finish, and quality.
This piece does want a pair of finials that would be appropriate for the top and bottom to make it complete. And, with a cleaned mechanism, polished bits and bobs, it would be a stunning example of the genre.
Read MoreThis Austrian-made piece exemplifies the faux finishing that was done in the third quarter of the nineteenth century. With its deep maroon background, and its artfully-applied false graining, this piece leaves you with the impression of a strongly-grained rosewood or mahogany case. The colors are so wonderfully vibrant - so many of the clocks we find are muted, faded by the ultraviolet light from the sun. It is very refreshing to find a clock like this in its original glory. In fact, you could consider it a history lesson - given that there are so very many clocks that have been faded to a brown or yellow hue. And, while the finish is in excellent condition, it could use a good cleaning to bring out the beauty of both the finish and the color.
The mechanism is of the quality one expects from a Viennese-made piece. It always amazes me how perfectly the wheels, pinions, pivots and escapement are made. These clocks reflect the ultimate benefit of the Viennese clock-maker guilds - assurance of the very high standards that we respect today.
While the dial center has a couple of very fine hairline cracks that are barely noticeable, the chapter ring is perfect. As are the fine hands, weight and the pendulum bob. Fortunately this clock also has its original wall stabilizers, painted beat-scale, and old, wavy and bubbly glass throughout.
Note too the unusual pulley. And yes, you can see in the photo, the gut weight lines are a bit frayed, and need to be replaced when the mechanism gets its well-deserved cleaning.
This clock is an excellent example of the condition in which we like to find clocks in Austria, untouched, but also preserved. Dirty, but with excellent underlying finish, and quality.
This piece does want a pair of finials that would be appropriate for the top and bottom to make it complete. And, with a cleaned mechanism, polished bits and bobs, it would be a stunning example of the genre.
