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Vienna, first quarter of the 19th century
- signed
- "Michael Schmidt in Wien"
- Clockmaker
- Michael Schmidt, Vienna
- *1772, mentd. 1811, †1826
- Case
- engine turned ormolu, two pairs of dolphins as supporting figurines, finial in the shape of an eagle with snake
- Dial
- enamel
- Movement
- anchor escapement, Viennese grande sonnerie on bells, repeater, turn-off for strike, indication of date,
- Technique
- duration of one week
- Height
- 24¾ in
cf.: Sobek Collection, Vienna, inv. no. 1525.
F. Kaltenböck: Viennese Timepieces, Munich 1988, p. 158, fig. 326.
K. Maurice: Die deutsche Räderuhr, vol. II, Munich 1976, fig. 1088.
Tardy: La Pendule Francaise, vol. III, Paris 1974, p. 659.
This impressive mantel clock ranks among the finest achievements of Viennese clockmaking in the early 19th century. Fire-gilt bronze cases were, by their very nature, reserved for an affluent clientele – typically of noble descent. However, the clock’s monumental sculptural design and masterfully crafted movement with a week-long power reserve elevate it to the level of a true luxury object of its time.
Two pairs of finely detailed ormolu dolphins support the delicately engine turned case drum. In Greek mythology, these marine creatures served the god Poseidon and were used as mounts and chariot animals by Venus, Cupid, and the sea nymphs. Dolphins also symbolized compassion and helpfulness, as they were believed to rescue people from shipwrecks. The sculptural finial, featuring an eagle grasping a serpent, also carries mythological meaning: it represents the triumph of good over evil.
The movement features an anchor escapement and a Viennese grande sonnerie on bells on bells, and also includes a date display. The exceptional craftsmanship of Viennese clockmaker Michael Schmidt is clearly demonstrated through the execution of this long-running movement in combination with the complexity of the quarter-hour striking mechanism.
A clock with an almost identical case is held in the prestigious Sobek Collection (Geymüller castle, Vienna, inv. no. 1525) and has been published multiple times in scholarly literature.