A rare Dutch rosewood hood clock

Titel:
A rare Dutch rosewood hood clock

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PeriodCa. 1690DescriptionThe case surmounted by a round pediment, the dial flanked by twisted columns, the bottom of the case decorated with six hanging finials, the black velvet face similar to a ‘Zaanse klok’, the brass dial with Roman numerals and lily decorations, flanked by brass putti spandrels, the fully brass Dutch ‘cage’ mechanism with twisted columns on a square base, with a balance wheel verge escapement placed between two top plates, the striking mechanism with a count wheel, striking the whole hour and the half hour in full on separate bells, the alternation mechanism for the switch between the two bells made by a rare lever construction.Late 17th- and early 18th-century Dutch clocks come in different types and forms. Because of the 21-year patent, Dutch clockmakers were not allowed to produce pendulum clocks similar to Huygens’ invention. Around 1680, Dutch clockmakers developed new weight-driven mechanisms using a pendulum. Examples are the ‘Zaanse Klok’, ‘Friese Stoelklok’ and the ‘Groningse Stoelklok’. Virtually all stool clocks had a verge escapement mounted in a lantern type construction, as well as a suspended pendulum. However, East-Dutch type stool clocks with an anchor escapement and a suspended pendulum were also made during that time.In 1674, Huygens patented a new invention: the balance spring placed on a balance wheel with a verge escapement (see image below). The spring regulates the oscillation of the balance wheel and limits its amplitude. This increases the precision of the clock. The balance wheel/verge escapement was already in use in the 16th century. In Holland, this system was used in the so called ‘West-Friese Stoelklok’, stool clocks with a lantern type construction where the balance wheel was positioned between two top plates. This hood clock has a lot of similarities with the West-Frisian clock, but the new invention by Huygens, the balance spring, was added to this principle. The face of the clock mostly resembles the appearance of a ‘Zaanse Klok’. The clock can therefore be dated to the last quarter of the 17th century, probably produced in the area between Zaandam and Alkmaar. The mechanism and case are not signed, but repair dates ‘1700’ and ‘BL à Goor 1854’ can be found.The construction of the mechanism follows the traditional Frisian and West-Frisan principles. However, this clock has an extra wheel for it to run several days. The striking mechanism is activated by a ‘bokkepoot’ on the minute hand wheel, and it has a count wheel on the back. A special feature is the system that moves the striking hammer up and down to change between the two bells. Both the going train and striking mechanism are driven by an endless chain (invention by Huygens) with a large weight on a pulley and a counter weight. Because of the length of the chain and the number of strikes per hour, the clock runs for approximately 30 hours.Dimensions50x24,5x21 cm