French Porcelain Table Clock with Key and Pendulum
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.
- 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
Antique French Louis XV style waisted shape bracket clock, ebonized wood with ormolu mounts, approx 51 cm high
A fine Louis XV style ormolu mantle clock, 19th century, with maker's mark for Japy Freres, key and pendulum, a waisted clock upon an integral shaped base, cast and pierced in the rocaille manner with a profusion of flowers, trophies, scrolling leafy forms
French Boule mantel clock. Movement by Mougin. Ormolu mounts. No key or pendulum. Untested. Height 31 cm
French style figural mantle clock, with pendulum, no key, 28 cm high