Historical Timeline of Vienna Regulators
Vienna Regulators
Historical Setting
© Copyright 2006, Stephen Nelson, SNClocks LLC.
July 2, 2006
1278
Rudolf of Habsburg wins battle of Marchfeld, a decisive event in the history of Central Europe, allowing the Habsburgs to take control over the Duchies of Austria, Styria, Carinthia and Carniola for centuries to come. Rudolf divided the conquered area into Austria and Styria. This marks the beginning of the Habsburg dynasty.
1451
Kaiser Friedrich III (a Habsburg) grants charter to Viennese craftsmen in which clockmakers are mentioned for the first time as an independent group.
1550
The demand for accurate timekeeping is driven by the scientific community
1550 - 1600
Leading clockmakers emigrated to Vienna in the second half of the sixteenth century. Really didn’t see growth in Viennese makers until the end of the Thirty Years war in 1648.
1575
Owning complicated clocks bestowed prestige on their owners, even though the clocks were not accurate. None the less, many were very complex, including astrolabes and planetary clocks. These clocks allowed their owners to “compete with scientists”
Late 1500's
The most talented clock and watchmakers were attracted to Prague, the residential city of the Emperor. The excellent makers in the Prague served to limit the demand for Viennese products
Prague (residential city of Kaiser Rudolf II from 1576 to 1612) is the center of courtly manner and technical development in Europe
Rudolf is fascinated by astrology and astronomy.
Habsburg tradition of collecting reached its climax with Rudolf II
A patron of science and enthusiastic supporter of clock making
Jost Burgi in the court of Rudolf II - 1552 - 1632
Most outstanding clockmaker of his time.
Developed Remontoir.
Kaiser Fredinand II brought him from Saxony to Vienna in 1629
Succeeded by Oswald von Muller.
Christoph Margraf, another important maker in Rudolf II’s court
1608
Treaty of Lieben - Importance of Vienna grew
➔Kaiser Rudolf II delegated governmental power over Austria, Hungary and Moravia to his brother Matthias.
➔Matthias moved to Vienna and installed a huge household.
1618 - 1648
Thirty years war delayed development of Vienna
Lost most of Rudolf II’s Prague collection to plundering
Clocks and watches from this period rare
End of the Thirty Years war saw growth in clock and watchmaking in Vienna
Second half or 1600's
Vienna focused on recovery from 30 years war and the Turkish invasions in 1683. The end of the 30 years war is seen as the beginning of Courtly Absolutism in Austria. It was not until after the second Turkish siege (1683) that conditions were right for economic and artistic progress. It was in this period that the state, as well as aristocratic and middle-class Viennese imitated the French and English, including commissioning local artisans to make copies of French and English furniture if they could not afford originals
Austrian art establishes a reputation in Europe.
➔Governmental intervention focused on crafts that would generate tax revenue.
➔Imports were restricted, the government tried to stop import of luxury articles from 1659 to 1671.
➔Protection of local crafts led to a lack in willingness to produce extraordinary works.
➔Jewish merchants had a thriving business importing luxury goods, including clocks and watches, from England and France. These goods could only be sold at special markets in Vienna. In fact, Viennese makers made fakes, including foreign trademarks, for sale in these markets. These fakes led to a general loss of respect for Viennese makers in the later parts of the 1700's. Finally the Viennese authorities had to proceed against these fakes.
➔State and Church were the primary clients, both for arts and crafts objects, which were meant to signify wealth and power in an impressive, even theatrical manner with a finish as luxurious as possible: Appearance was everything, with very little that was real or valuable. There are a lot of very impressive pieces from this period. On the other hand the English clocks from this time were too plain.
1660 to 1740
English clocks and watches were predominant in Central Europe, and were a strong influence on Viennese styles.
1700
Until the end of the 1600's, predominant influence on Viennese clockmakers was from southern Germany. The 1700's saw birth of local styles in Vienna.
1740
➔Viennese clockmakers moving away from the austere English forms, adding carving and ornamentation, including Rococo styling elements.
➔Maria Theresia ascended to power. Famous quote attributed to her:
Other countries may fight wars, but you, happy Austria, you marry.
1740 - 48
War of Austrian Succession - contesting Empress’s accession
1756 - 63
Seven Years War - Put down threats to Habsburg dominance of Central Europe
1754
The 18 independent Master watchmakers living in Vienna petitioned to object to the “Dekretisten” - or watchmakers that were not Guild members but still had a royal charter to make watches. They were putting the Guild members out of business. As if this were not enough, watches and clocks from the German capitals of Nuremberg and Augsburg, and from France and England were so popular that many of the Viennese guild members were reduced to doing repairs.
1760's
➔Vienna did not develop a Rococo style during the 1760's. Any pieces one may see are probably the product of late Baroque period with a few, delicate Rococo features.
➔The reforms of Maria Theresia (died in 1780) in the 1760's spurred a shift from “fine arts” to more arts and crafts-quality clocks and watches.
1767
Maria Theresia established the Erzschneiderschule to provide better training for heavy metal and bronze workers. None the less, it took years for a productive trade structure to be organized. In Vienna, in contrast to France, small shops predominated, making limited series or even single pieces. Great for creativity, bad for costs. It is almost impossible to find two bronze mantle-clock cases that are the same. Cases were viewed as less important than the mechanisms, and were typically unsigned.
1765 to 1780
Kaiser Joseph II helped his mother rule. During both the reign of Maria Theresia and Kaiser Joseph, monasteries were dissolved, resulting in the loss and damage of objets d’art (including significant clocks).
Second half of 1700's
➔Clocks combine elements from several countries, especially France, with it’s bronze cartels being copied in carved/gilded wood.
➔Carriage clocks were popular from the second half of the 1700's, peaking in the second quarter of the 1800's.
Last quarter of 1700's
Return to classical motifs
1789
➔Kaiser Joseph II (died 1790), viewed as a bit of a revolutionary, focused on the development of efficient clock and watchmaking production, both in terms of quality and quantity. He allowed a number of Geneva master watchmakers to move to Constance. This “Geneva” colony, consisting of 93 craftsmen initially, growing to 150, moved to Vienna in 1789, bringing with them technical innovations and the concept of division of labor to help satisfy the growing demand for clocks and watches. During this period the State funded development of a factory. With the Geneva colonies move, and State funding, the scene was set for the development of a European clock and watch making center.
➔Before the arrival of the Geneva colony the price of a watch mechanism was 7 to 8 Swiss francs, thirty years later it was 1.5 to 2.
End of 1700's
➔A number of manufacturing centers or “Factories” were founded in Vienna. These were not large enterprises with mechanized methods, but commercial establishment which had Imperial privileges and did not depend on the Guilds. The Guilds attacked these establishments regularly. These factories used division of labor, and the separation of management from those who did the work. Interestingly, the Kaiserlich Koniglich privilegierten Genfer Uhrenfabrik was dissolved in 1800, the expected economic success never came.
➔The Viennese watch and clockmakers, especially those affiliated with the Guilds, were too conservative to accept Swiss methods of production. Instead of standardization, they focused on individuality, trying to create unique pieces, if only with regards to appearance. The small Guild workshops explain the wide variety of timepieces from this era.
➔Up to the end of the 1700's the primary market for Viennese clocks and watches was local. It is only toward the end of the 1700's that clocks appeared with a distinctly “Viennese” character or peculiarities. Until the 1830's exports primarily went through Serbian merchants to the Turks, Greeks and Armenians. Custom duties on exports to Hungary through 1830 help explain early clock production in Hungary. Hungarian clockmakers modeled themselves on the Viennese.
➔As Peter Hardy once said, when referring to Viennese Clocks: “Here it happened because of elegance”
Early 1800's
➔The most significant event in Viennese clock production in the 1800's was the advent of regulators. A deadbeat escapement was usually used. In rare cases a pinwheel escapement was used.
➔The Laterndl-Uhr clocks were made by the most talented Master clockmaker in cooperation with the most talented domestic Master Joiners. Mostly wall clocks, with a few floor-standing pieces, the works were visible through the glazing. Finer or more complicated works were often protected by an additional glazing around the mechanism.
➔Clock production far exceeded watch production. The watchmakers were just too far behind technologically to catch up quickly. Besides, the Viennese watch makers could not compete on price with Swiss and English makers. Many of the watchmakers bought unfinished movements and even cases for finishing and sale in Vienna. Since the Viennese watch makers could not compete in pocket watches, they turned more to making showcase pieces, like the small Zapplers.
➔English and French clocks and watches gained Viennese popularity.
1805 & 1809
Napoleon occupies Vienna. Emperor Franz II ordered to abdicate position as Holy Roman Emperor.
1810
Napoleon married Marie-Louise (Habsburg Archduchess)
1811
Viennese treasury is bankrupt
1814
Napoleon is defeated, Congress of Vienna “picked up the pieces” after the Napoleonic debacle. The brilliant diplomacy of Metternich resulted in Austrian influence within a confederation of German-speaking states.
1815 - 48
Metternich dominated the government, resulting in the “Biedermeier” period, distinguished by:
- Rise of the Bourgeoisie
- Increased prosperity for the middle class
- Deliberate eradication of civil rights
- Imposition of a police state
- Economic climate that favored industrialization at the expense of workers rights and wages.
1848
“Events exploded in Vienna, Hungary and Most of Europe”, with the working people fighting for their rights. Threatened by revolutionary chaos, Metternich fled. The Austrian army imposed a new version of absolute autocracy, installing Emperor Franz Joseph I, the last Habsburg scion, at the age of 18. He ruled untill 1916. His austere comportment created the perfect foil for an explosion of artistic development in a newly revitalized Austria.
1850
Began seeing factories in Austria
1815 to 1860
Biedermeier period followed Emperor Joseph’s era. This style was typical of Vienna, and later all Austria. Biedermeier did not develop as fully in many countries as in Austria, where it became a characteristic style. Appreciation of both naturally as well as technically beauty was developed. Laterndl-Uhren are typical of the Biedermeier period.
1873
Vienna World Fair and the beginning of the break-down of the Austrian empire
1914
Assassination of heir to the Habsburg empire, Archduke Ferdinand, sparks beginning of WW I
1916
Death of Franz Joseph, succeeded by Charles I, last of Habsburg monarchs.
1918
End of WW I, defeat of Austria, abdication of Charles I, and dismantling of Austro/Hungarian empire.
Read MoreHistorical Setting
© Copyright 2006, Stephen Nelson, SNClocks LLC.
July 2, 2006
1278
Rudolf of Habsburg wins battle of Marchfeld, a decisive event in the history of Central Europe, allowing the Habsburgs to take control over the Duchies of Austria, Styria, Carinthia and Carniola for centuries to come. Rudolf divided the conquered area into Austria and Styria. This marks the beginning of the Habsburg dynasty.
1451
Kaiser Friedrich III (a Habsburg) grants charter to Viennese craftsmen in which clockmakers are mentioned for the first time as an independent group.
1550
The demand for accurate timekeeping is driven by the scientific community
1550 - 1600
Leading clockmakers emigrated to Vienna in the second half of the sixteenth century. Really didn’t see growth in Viennese makers until the end of the Thirty Years war in 1648.
1575
Owning complicated clocks bestowed prestige on their owners, even though the clocks were not accurate. None the less, many were very complex, including astrolabes and planetary clocks. These clocks allowed their owners to “compete with scientists”
Late 1500's
The most talented clock and watchmakers were attracted to Prague, the residential city of the Emperor. The excellent makers in the Prague served to limit the demand for Viennese products
Prague (residential city of Kaiser Rudolf II from 1576 to 1612) is the center of courtly manner and technical development in Europe
Rudolf is fascinated by astrology and astronomy.
Habsburg tradition of collecting reached its climax with Rudolf II
A patron of science and enthusiastic supporter of clock making
Jost Burgi in the court of Rudolf II - 1552 - 1632
Most outstanding clockmaker of his time.
Developed Remontoir.
Kaiser Fredinand II brought him from Saxony to Vienna in 1629
Succeeded by Oswald von Muller.
Christoph Margraf, another important maker in Rudolf II’s court
1608
Treaty of Lieben - Importance of Vienna grew
➔Kaiser Rudolf II delegated governmental power over Austria, Hungary and Moravia to his brother Matthias.
➔Matthias moved to Vienna and installed a huge household.
1618 - 1648
Thirty years war delayed development of Vienna
Lost most of Rudolf II’s Prague collection to plundering
Clocks and watches from this period rare
End of the Thirty Years war saw growth in clock and watchmaking in Vienna
Second half or 1600's
Vienna focused on recovery from 30 years war and the Turkish invasions in 1683. The end of the 30 years war is seen as the beginning of Courtly Absolutism in Austria. It was not until after the second Turkish siege (1683) that conditions were right for economic and artistic progress. It was in this period that the state, as well as aristocratic and middle-class Viennese imitated the French and English, including commissioning local artisans to make copies of French and English furniture if they could not afford originals
Austrian art establishes a reputation in Europe.
➔Governmental intervention focused on crafts that would generate tax revenue.
➔Imports were restricted, the government tried to stop import of luxury articles from 1659 to 1671.
➔Protection of local crafts led to a lack in willingness to produce extraordinary works.
➔Jewish merchants had a thriving business importing luxury goods, including clocks and watches, from England and France. These goods could only be sold at special markets in Vienna. In fact, Viennese makers made fakes, including foreign trademarks, for sale in these markets. These fakes led to a general loss of respect for Viennese makers in the later parts of the 1700's. Finally the Viennese authorities had to proceed against these fakes.
➔State and Church were the primary clients, both for arts and crafts objects, which were meant to signify wealth and power in an impressive, even theatrical manner with a finish as luxurious as possible: Appearance was everything, with very little that was real or valuable. There are a lot of very impressive pieces from this period. On the other hand the English clocks from this time were too plain.
1660 to 1740
English clocks and watches were predominant in Central Europe, and were a strong influence on Viennese styles.
1700
Until the end of the 1600's, predominant influence on Viennese clockmakers was from southern Germany. The 1700's saw birth of local styles in Vienna.
1740
➔Viennese clockmakers moving away from the austere English forms, adding carving and ornamentation, including Rococo styling elements.
➔Maria Theresia ascended to power. Famous quote attributed to her:
Other countries may fight wars, but you, happy Austria, you marry.
1740 - 48
War of Austrian Succession - contesting Empress’s accession
1756 - 63
Seven Years War - Put down threats to Habsburg dominance of Central Europe
1754
The 18 independent Master watchmakers living in Vienna petitioned to object to the “Dekretisten” - or watchmakers that were not Guild members but still had a royal charter to make watches. They were putting the Guild members out of business. As if this were not enough, watches and clocks from the German capitals of Nuremberg and Augsburg, and from France and England were so popular that many of the Viennese guild members were reduced to doing repairs.
1760's
➔Vienna did not develop a Rococo style during the 1760's. Any pieces one may see are probably the product of late Baroque period with a few, delicate Rococo features.
➔The reforms of Maria Theresia (died in 1780) in the 1760's spurred a shift from “fine arts” to more arts and crafts-quality clocks and watches.
1767
Maria Theresia established the Erzschneiderschule to provide better training for heavy metal and bronze workers. None the less, it took years for a productive trade structure to be organized. In Vienna, in contrast to France, small shops predominated, making limited series or even single pieces. Great for creativity, bad for costs. It is almost impossible to find two bronze mantle-clock cases that are the same. Cases were viewed as less important than the mechanisms, and were typically unsigned.
1765 to 1780
Kaiser Joseph II helped his mother rule. During both the reign of Maria Theresia and Kaiser Joseph, monasteries were dissolved, resulting in the loss and damage of objets d’art (including significant clocks).
Second half of 1700's
➔Clocks combine elements from several countries, especially France, with it’s bronze cartels being copied in carved/gilded wood.
➔Carriage clocks were popular from the second half of the 1700's, peaking in the second quarter of the 1800's.
Last quarter of 1700's
Return to classical motifs
1789
➔Kaiser Joseph II (died 1790), viewed as a bit of a revolutionary, focused on the development of efficient clock and watchmaking production, both in terms of quality and quantity. He allowed a number of Geneva master watchmakers to move to Constance. This “Geneva” colony, consisting of 93 craftsmen initially, growing to 150, moved to Vienna in 1789, bringing with them technical innovations and the concept of division of labor to help satisfy the growing demand for clocks and watches. During this period the State funded development of a factory. With the Geneva colonies move, and State funding, the scene was set for the development of a European clock and watch making center.
➔Before the arrival of the Geneva colony the price of a watch mechanism was 7 to 8 Swiss francs, thirty years later it was 1.5 to 2.
End of 1700's
➔A number of manufacturing centers or “Factories” were founded in Vienna. These were not large enterprises with mechanized methods, but commercial establishment which had Imperial privileges and did not depend on the Guilds. The Guilds attacked these establishments regularly. These factories used division of labor, and the separation of management from those who did the work. Interestingly, the Kaiserlich Koniglich privilegierten Genfer Uhrenfabrik was dissolved in 1800, the expected economic success never came.
➔The Viennese watch and clockmakers, especially those affiliated with the Guilds, were too conservative to accept Swiss methods of production. Instead of standardization, they focused on individuality, trying to create unique pieces, if only with regards to appearance. The small Guild workshops explain the wide variety of timepieces from this era.
➔Up to the end of the 1700's the primary market for Viennese clocks and watches was local. It is only toward the end of the 1700's that clocks appeared with a distinctly “Viennese” character or peculiarities. Until the 1830's exports primarily went through Serbian merchants to the Turks, Greeks and Armenians. Custom duties on exports to Hungary through 1830 help explain early clock production in Hungary. Hungarian clockmakers modeled themselves on the Viennese.
➔As Peter Hardy once said, when referring to Viennese Clocks: “Here it happened because of elegance”
Early 1800's
➔The most significant event in Viennese clock production in the 1800's was the advent of regulators. A deadbeat escapement was usually used. In rare cases a pinwheel escapement was used.
➔The Laterndl-Uhr clocks were made by the most talented Master clockmaker in cooperation with the most talented domestic Master Joiners. Mostly wall clocks, with a few floor-standing pieces, the works were visible through the glazing. Finer or more complicated works were often protected by an additional glazing around the mechanism.
➔Clock production far exceeded watch production. The watchmakers were just too far behind technologically to catch up quickly. Besides, the Viennese watch makers could not compete on price with Swiss and English makers. Many of the watchmakers bought unfinished movements and even cases for finishing and sale in Vienna. Since the Viennese watch makers could not compete in pocket watches, they turned more to making showcase pieces, like the small Zapplers.
➔English and French clocks and watches gained Viennese popularity.
1805 & 1809
Napoleon occupies Vienna. Emperor Franz II ordered to abdicate position as Holy Roman Emperor.
1810
Napoleon married Marie-Louise (Habsburg Archduchess)
1811
Viennese treasury is bankrupt
1814
Napoleon is defeated, Congress of Vienna “picked up the pieces” after the Napoleonic debacle. The brilliant diplomacy of Metternich resulted in Austrian influence within a confederation of German-speaking states.
1815 - 48
Metternich dominated the government, resulting in the “Biedermeier” period, distinguished by:
- Rise of the Bourgeoisie
- Increased prosperity for the middle class
- Deliberate eradication of civil rights
- Imposition of a police state
- Economic climate that favored industrialization at the expense of workers rights and wages.
1848
“Events exploded in Vienna, Hungary and Most of Europe”, with the working people fighting for their rights. Threatened by revolutionary chaos, Metternich fled. The Austrian army imposed a new version of absolute autocracy, installing Emperor Franz Joseph I, the last Habsburg scion, at the age of 18. He ruled untill 1916. His austere comportment created the perfect foil for an explosion of artistic development in a newly revitalized Austria.
1850
Began seeing factories in Austria
1815 to 1860
Biedermeier period followed Emperor Joseph’s era. This style was typical of Vienna, and later all Austria. Biedermeier did not develop as fully in many countries as in Austria, where it became a characteristic style. Appreciation of both naturally as well as technically beauty was developed. Laterndl-Uhren are typical of the Biedermeier period.
1873
Vienna World Fair and the beginning of the break-down of the Austrian empire
1914
Assassination of heir to the Habsburg empire, Archduke Ferdinand, sparks beginning of WW I
1916
Death of Franz Joseph, succeeded by Charles I, last of Habsburg monarchs.
1918
End of WW I, defeat of Austria, abdication of Charles I, and dismantling of Austro/Hungarian empire.
Joseph II (Joseph Benedikt Anton Michael Adam; 13 March 1741 – 20 February 1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I. Joseph was a proponent of enlightened absolutism; however, his commitment to modernizing reforms subsequently engendered significant opposition, which eventually culminated in an ultimate failure to fully implement his programmes. He has been ranked, with Catherine II of Russia and Frederick II of Prussia, as one of the three great Enlightenment despots.
I have included a picture of ranz Josef II because he is arguably the reason that Vienna was one of the finest, if not the finest clock making centers in the world. His decision to bring in Swiss watch-makers to train Viennese clock-makers gave the Viennese the skills necessary to produce the long duration clocks for which they are famous!
