This Vienna Regulator wall clock was made for some friends. It is technically known as Dachluhr.
The clock is made from sold Jarrah with Tasmanian oak stringing. The door frame is 'Flame' Jarrah, the side frames are 'fiddle-back' Jarrah. The back board, and part of the plinth are veneered with Vavona, a burl from the root system of the Sequoia tree. The back panel has a four way book match.
It has 4 bevelled glass 'lights', and two typical 'steady screws' at the bottom to help fix its position on the wall. The 'beat plaque' below the pendulum is used to align the clock to the vertical. It hides a second screw which fixes the clock to the wall.
The movement is a Kieninger PS, with a simple hour and half hour strike on a coiled gong, possibly more in keeping with the originals than one with a Westminster chime, as in the long case version I made!! It has automatic night silence, the last strike is at 10.00 pm; the first strike of the day is at 7.30 am. The striking is controlled by a rod which hangs down the left side of the dial.
The bevelled glass and very slim design makes it look so elegant. Hiding the hinges and door catches - magnets, added to the simple lines.
Thanks for looking.
A little history ..................
The original Dachluhr clocks were amongst the finest clocks ever produced, both in the delicacy of their cases and the precision of their movements. The finest were made over a short period of time between c.1800 to c.1845.
The term 'Vienna regulator' usually refers to a weight driven precision wall clock. There were two main early types. The Laterndluhr, or lantern clock has three sections, a large top and bottom case with a slimmer middle section - see my A Laterndluhr Vienna Regulator wall clock project. The Dachluhr, or roof top clock, typically has an architectural top and a single-section case. It was easier to make than the Laterndluhr and was therefore more affordable, and so became the more popular style. Both types have glazed doors and side panels - the Laterndluhr is often called a nine light, while the Dachluhr is a six light, or in your case a four light. All were made in relatively small numbers in or around Vienna in Austria, or in other cities of the Austrian Empire, including Budapest.
After about 1845 the classic restrained style degenerated into fussy, and over decorated cases. First came the Biedermeier style with carved pediments and pedestals, followed by the over decorated factory-made 'imitations' by German makers. This over decorated style continued, with more and more carving added to cases, and endless turned finials on the top and bottom. They were mass produced by German and American manufacturers' right through to the early 1900's.
The original Laterndluhr and Dachluhr cases were usually of pine veneered in mahogany, often with a contrasting lighter wood used for stringing the frames. Walnut and ash veneer was sometimes used, and there are some examples with ebonized fruit wood cases. Most run for 8 days, though some of the finer examples run for 6 months or even a year on one fall of the weight.
An original antique Dachluhr with similar specification to this would cost (August 2010) around A$20,000 - A$40,000!!! You can see some originals on the following web site. www.campbellandarchard.co.uk/laterndluhrs.htm
