Lot 258

Michael Gruber, Nuremberg, 58 x 27 mm, 223 g, circa 1600
An important single-handed and pre-balance spring Renaissance drum-shaped "clock-watch" with hour strike and alarm
Case: brass, firegilt, allover rich open work floral chasing and engraving. Dial: brass, firegilt, outer chapter ring with Roman numerals "I-XII", inner chapter ring with Arabic hours "13-24", applied hour knobs for time reading by night, engraved compass rose to the centre, finely cut iron hand. Movm.: firegilt brass full plate movement, signed, florally engraved, verge escapement, 2 hammers, three open springs, locking plate with internal teeth, foliot without balance spring.
The front is decorated with spoke-shaped open work detail showing the hours, the back with mascarons and figures, leaf scrolls and animal motifs around the edge: monkeys, dogs, a hare and a horse.
Michael Gruber
Gruber worked in Nuremberg in the second half of the 16th century and in the early 17th century; he became a master in 1604. Many of his clocks are part of important collections or are held by the British Museum in London.
Source: Juergen Abeler, "Meister der Uhrmacherkunst", 2. Edition, Wuppertal 2010, p. 196
Provenance: Renowned private collection in Vienna