Louis XV Blue Porcelain Mantle Clock with Gilt Decoration
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
Japy Freres gilt bronze mantle clock with ornate detail on cloven feet & retailed for Emile Colin et Cie, 29 Rue Sevigne, with a pendulum. Condition good to fair, some age related wear, needs a service. Height 52 cm
French Japy Freres mantle clock with 8 day striking movement (bell) in magnificent figural ormolu and hand painted porcelain case, 54 cm high, key and pendulum included
French ormolou clock heavily gilded with a front panel hand painted with a courting couple, with two other ceramic panels of serene rural scenes to the sides below two panels on either side of still lifes, set upon four impressive sphinx feet, with a key a
French mantle clock with porcelain panel decoration, has key and pendulum (in office), approx 42 cm high, 27 cm wide, 14 cm deep