Details
Image(s)
TitleLongcase Clock with Bell Playing Movement and Automaton
Creator Casper Friederich Schultz
PlaceAmsterdam (The Netherlands)
Year ca. 1760
Object number0260
Object categorymechanical instruments with bells, timepieces with musical movements
Object nametimepiece with bells, longcase clock
DescriptionThe case of this longcase clock is made of oak with walnut veneer. The clock's dial is packed with information: minutes, hours, days, the date, month, moon phase and a high-water mark. On top of the clock are three bronze statues: Atlas with the celestial globe and two angels. In the arch of the dial is a moving landscape painting, consisting of ships, human and animal figures.
Accompanying textsThe clock's playing mechanism has 17 bells and 31 hammers. There are 16 melodies programmed on the cylinder, including 'Minuet de Locatelli', 'Folie d'Espagne', 'de Savoyards meisje' and a gavotte by Corelli.
18th-century musical clocks usually played popular tunes that were widely known, such as the Dutch 'Boerenballet' or 'Hoor Kees mijn vrijer'. Sometimes the origins of these tunes can be linked to a well-known composer. For instance, the title of one of these melodies is 'Menuet de Locatelli'. This is the minuet composed by Pietro Antonio Locatelli from his Flute Sonata, opus 2, no 10 (1732). It was a regular occurrence for these original melodies to be supplied with a new set of popular lyrics, in which form they became even more widespread and well-known.
18th-century musical clocks usually played popular tunes that were widely known, such as the Dutch 'Boerenballet' or 'Hoor Kees mijn vrijer'. Sometimes the origins of these tunes can be linked to a well-known composer. For instance, the title of one of these melodies is 'Menuet de Locatelli'. This is the minuet composed by Pietro Antonio Locatelli from his Flute Sonata, opus 2, no 10 (1732). It was a regular occurrence for these original melodies to be supplied with a new set of popular lyrics, in which form they became even more widespread and well-known.
Dimensions
geheel height: 315 cm
geheel width: 71 cm
geheel depth: 37 cm
geheel width: 71 cm
geheel depth: 37 cm
Digital references