11,500 CHF
Unsigned, Germany, circa 1700. Rare, gilt metal astronomical horizontal table clock with phases of the moon and manually-set ages of the moon scale, striking hours and quarters. Square, glazed windows on each side, molded top and bottom, bun feet. Silver, Roman hour chapter and outer minute ring with five-minute Arabic markers, center with two gilt brass concentric discs, the inner one calibrated for 29 1/2 days on Arabic scale with "Z"s for "2"s, the outer one with elaborate brass hour pointer and aperture for manually-set moon phases, the center engraved with epact indication. Elaborate brass minute hand. Square, 98 x 98 mm, brass full plate, square pillar, going train with fusee and chain, verge escapement, steel balance, flat balance-spring, single footed cock, hour- and quarter-striking with fixed barrels, the quarters also strike at the full hour, then quarter cam activates hour striking, count wheel on the back plate, quarter striking dial also on the back plate, striking on two bells mounted in the base panel.Dim. 12 x 12 cm. Notes Epact is the difference between the solar and the lunar year, equal to about 11 days, i.e. the moon's age in days on 1 January of any given year. The epact system is based on the Metonic Lunar Cycle (otherwise known as the Cycle of Golden Numbers), and serves to indicate the days of the year on which the new moons occur, which is needed to calculate the date of Easter.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2001-10-13
