Marble Balloon Clock with Metal Mounts
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
A French Louis XV style mantel clock with white marble case and plinth and gilt metal mounts, the circular case surmounted by an ormolu trophy pediment of a flaming torch and quiver of arrows; two cherubs support the case whilst kneeling upon a plateau pli
German 400 day clock with original painted wooden case of Neuchateloise design, circa 1960, working order, 33 cm high approx.
A silver plate and silver gilt mounted harbour clock barometer, by J. Sewill, 30 Cornhill London, 22 cm high, 17 cm wide
A Maurice Lacroix Gmt wristwatch, from the masterpiece collection, manual wind movement, circular silvered dial with Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds dial at nine, power dial at three, Gmt at dial at twelve, date dial at six, signed case, dial and moveme