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Vienna, around 1800
- signed
- "Fertbauer in Wien"
- Clockmaker
- Philipp Fertbauer, Vienna
- *1763, civil master 1785-1815, 1805 appraiser, †1820
- Case
- polished mahogany veneer, ormolu bead fillets, ormolu balustrade, ormolu vase decoration
- Dial
- enamel dial with small seconds indication and indication of date and days of the week
- Movement
- precision movement, encapsulated with glass panels, “Fertbauer escapement”: special anchor – directly integrated into the pendulum rod, seconds pendulum, knife edge-suspension, three weights – positioned behind the pendulum, Viennese grande sonnerie on bells, repeater, turn-off for the strike, duration of eight days
- Height
- 55 in
cf.: Vienna Clock Museum, inv. no. U2915.
Sobek Collection, Geymüller castle Vienna, inv. no. 1503.
E. v. Bassermann-Jordan/H. v. Bertele: Uhren, Würzburg 1969, p. 450, fig. 347a.
F. Kaltenböck: Die Wiener Uhr, Munich 1988, p. 189, fig. 410.
Philipp Fertbauer is considered the best clockmaker in the Austrian monarchy in the period around 1800. He became a master in 1795. In 1804, he was named head of the Viennese clockmakers and in 1805, he was appointed appraiser. His precise timepieces were indispensable measuring instruments for the observatories of the Habsburg Empire and were found in those of Vienna, Kremsmünster and Budapest, among others. According to Stephan von Keeß, Fertbauer‘s clocks were tested in the Vienna k.k. Observatory in Vienna and found that they were “almost impossible to improve”.
This highly valuable Fertbauer regulator is a timepiece of the highest quality and a special piece of Viennese clock history. The early wall clock features many of the typical characteristics of this master‘s clocks, such as a glass-encapsulated precision movement, a running time of eight days, weights guided behind the pendulum rod and, above all, the special “Fertbauer escapement”. Here, the anchor is integrated directly into the pendulum rod. The pendulum is powered immediately by the escapement, which significantly minimizes friction and energy losses.
The elegant case with fine mahogany veneer is adorned with ormolu bead fillets. In addition to the time display, the enamel dial also indicates the seconds, date and day of the week. The three weights power the going train as well as the hour and quarter-hour striking mechanism. Comparable timepieces by Philipp Fertbauer can be found in the Vienna Clock Museum and in the Sobek Collection at the Geymüller castle in Vienna.