Case dimensions: 55cm x 32cm x 12cm. The body is made of wood, the columns of genuine alabaster.
Inside is an unsigned, functional piece with bell chime and presumably repetition.
The bell sounds very muffled and somewhat rattling; it should be fixed.
A sturdy thread emerges from the clockwork and case, a feature typically found in grandfather clocks only for a repeater function. The thread is currently immobilized, and its location or possible binding point is not visible.
The softwood base shows recognizable historical handiwork; unfortunately, the glass covering of the floral ornament cracked during photography, but this can be easily and cheaply replaced.
A beautifully handcrafted floral and leaf ornament behind glass; on the gallery stand two white vases also made of genuine alabaster.
The clock can be wound and then runs with hourly and half-hourly chimes; accuracy not tested; repeater function – if present – currently blocked.
EZ: 3 - due to the blocked repeater (if present), the muffled chime, and broken glass. Otherwise complete and functional, no visible damage, cracks, or chips, but some soiling on the alabaster - see photos.
What is a portal clock? (Source: Wikipedia):
Portal clock:
The portal clock, also known as a column clock, is a variant of the stock clock , in which two or more columns form a kind of portal and support the clockwork , which is built into the superstructure.
Description
A portal clock is a table pendulum clock . The clockwork, usually housed in a drum-shaped case with a round dial , forms a portal-like, open structure together with the base and the framework (roof). Precursors of the portal clock are known from the 17th century. The classic form of the portal clock originated in the French Directoire period and spread through the Empire and Late Classical periods to the Biedermeier era . Its geographical distribution extended from France through southern Germany to Vienna and then further east. Today, a distinction is made between a French and an Austrian or southern German variant .
French variant
Most French portal clocks have a classic Empire-style portal. The frame is made of either fire-gilded bronze , cut glass , or marble , and less frequently, wood. The appliqués are cast in bronze and also fire-gilded. These clocks usually have a high-quality eight-day movement with a temperature-compensated pendulum . The half-hour striking mechanism uses a hammer to strike a bronze bell . Some French free-swinging clocks are also known in this form, where the clockwork itself forms the pendulum bob.
South German-Austrian variant
Between 1820 and 1850, portal clocks were very popular and widespread in the Vienna area. They were offered in many variations, from simple two-column clocks on wooden bases, the so-called caretaker's clocks, to the magnificent landlord's clocks with mirrored case backs. [4] The imagination of the case makers developed in all directions with Austrian portal clocks. The structure usually consists of wood with pressed sheet metal appliqués; the columns are often made of alabaster .
The clockworks, mostly single-day movements, in Austrian portal clocks are generally not as elaborately constructed as those in French clocks. Striking mechanisms strike simple gongs . The visible pendulum is often decorated. Higher-quality clocks often also feature an automaton or a musical mechanism.
