Silver Mantle Clock with Pendulum and Timber Case
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Movement - The technical name for the workings of a clock or watch, and does not include the dial or case.
- Pendulum - The pendulum was discovered around 1602 by Galileo Galilei, and was adopted for time keeping by the Dutch mathematician and natural philosopher, Christiaan Huygens, who excelled in astronomy, physics, and horology.
The pendulum comprises a metal rod usually of brass or steel with a metal disk, known as a bob, at the end. The movement of the pendulum is driven by weights or a spring, and as a pendulum swings in a regular arc, it was found accuracy could be controlled to within a few seconds a week.
Timekeeping can be adjusted by changing the height of the bob on the rod, making the pendulum either swing slower or faster.
The disadvantage of the pendulum was that changes in temperature also changed the length of the pendulum, interfering with the accuracy of the clock, and so in the 18th century two types of mercurial pendulums were invented which countered the movement in the steel rod.
The pendulum was the world's most accurate timekeeping technology until the invention of the quartz clock, regulated by a quartz crystal, in 1927.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
Four antique French faux bamboo coat racks (4)
An early parrying shield, South East Australia (early nineteenth century), carved hardwood and natural pigments, 89.2 cm high. This fine and early example shows evidence of stone tooling and the intricate designs incised into the face of the shield have be
A Chinese Yixing teapot, 20th century, the red clay teapot in the form of a rough cast pod entwined with leaves, tendrils and seed heads, the handle in the form of a twisted branch, the lid conforming and with a monkey finial; incised signature underside.
Chinese porcelain twin handled moon flask, in cobalt glaze, with cylindrical neck, and stylised handles, on oval foot, with seal marks, height 31 cm