Old time clock
The pendulum clock, designed and built by Dutch polymath Christiaan Huygens in 1656, was so much more accurate than other kinds of mechanical timekeepers that few clocks have survived with their verge and foliot mechanisms intact.
Leonardo da Vinci had produced the earliest known drawings of a pendulum in 1493–1494, and in 1582 Galileo Galilei had investigated the regular swing of the pendulum, discovering that frequency was only dependent on length. The invention of the mainspring in the early 15th century allowed small clocks to be built for the first time.įrom the 17th century, the discovery that clocks could be controlled by harmonic oscillators led to the most productive era in the history of timekeeping. The most famous mechanical clock was designed and built by Henry de Vick in c.1360-for the next 300 years, all the improvements in timekeeping were essentially developments based on it. The weight-driven mechanical clock, controlled by the action of a verge and foliot, was a synthesis of earlier ideas derived from European and Islamic science, and one of the most important inventions in the history of the timekeeping. In medieval Europe, purely mechanical clocks were developed after the invention of the bell-striking alarm, used to warn a man to toll the monastic bell. The hourglass, one of the few reliable methods of measuring time at sea, was a European invention and does not seem to have been used in China before the mid-16th century. Incense clocks, which may have been invented in India, were being used in China by the 6th century. Sundials and water clocks originated from ancient Egypt, and were later used by the Babylonians, the Greeks and the Chinese medieval Islamic water clocks were unrivalled in their sophistication until the mid-14th century.
#OLD TIME CLOCK SERIES#
Devices and methods for keeping time have since then improved through a long series of new inventions and ideas. The history of timekeeping devices dates back to when ancient civilizations first observed astronomical bodies as they moved across the sky. It is related to the hourglass, nowadays often used symbolically to represent the concept of time. Here at Westland London, we have a dedicated restoration department with experience in all areas of clock restoration.Īn antique clock face is without doubt a more evocative sight than the bright lights of its digital successor, and we hope our selection of antique clocks will inspire you to have one in your home.A marine sandglass. To be an antique clock dealer, understanding the workings of antique clocks, and their sometimes-temperamental nature, is important. Chinoiserie longcase clocks are delicately decorated with Chinese inspired designs, and emerged in the 18th century, when there was a huge surge in interest for East Asian artworks. These large, magnificent clocks were made in many different woods, and some are even lacquered. The longcase clock is most domineering of all, standing taller than the inhabitants of the home and commanding attention with its authoritative ticking and striking. Their movements exude quality and are often finer than their English counterparts. Today, a clock garniture can either be displayed together on a mantelpiece or a table, or even separated, so the candelabra might be used on a dining table whilst the clock remains in place.Īntique French clocks are often accompanied by a garniture and are made from gilt bronze.
This became very popular in the 19th century when the mantelpiece was often displayed with collectible porcelain and objets d’art.
For this reason, they are often very ornamental, using fine woods and metals that exude quality.Īn antique clock garniture makes even more of a statement, as it comprises not only an antique mantel clock but also a pair of candelabra or urns, intended to sit either side of the clock. They can, therefore, find a place in almost any interior, and the comforting sound of their ticking and striking becomes the heartbeat of a home.Īntique mantel clocks were made to sit above a fireplace, they command attention in one of the post prominent positions in the home. They come in many forms, from the imposing and grandest of longcase clocks, to the exquisite beauty of a carriage clock. Antique clocks not only showcase timeless elegance but also quality craftsmanship.