Floor clock

A floor clock in a striking three-wall glazed cabinet case, with a high plinth and a decorative finial in the form of a prominent cornice. The door in the front wall has two glazed openings; the upper one is round, corresponding with the dial face, and the lower one makes it possible to observe the work of the pendulum. The surface of the cabinet is inlaid with brass and stained bone, using floral motifs, mainly flowered twigs, following the stylish furniture canons of the period. On its dial there are markings of seconds, minutes, hours, days of the month. The mechanism of the clock has a weight drive and an anchor catch. The long, heavy, compensating pendulum provides greater precision in measuring time. It is made of seven brass and steel rods arranged alternately. Their different degrees of expansion and contraction mean that the length of the pendulum does not change despite changes in temperature. The mechanisms for the chronograph and for striking the half hours and hours have separate drives. The striking is by a comb system on a single spiral chime, giving a deep warm tone. The clock is equipped with a repetition mechanism repeating the last hour.

The clock was purchased for the Wilanów collection in 1963.

AK