Movement
The one-month movement with anchor escapement is driven by two springs in spring barrels with fusees. The plates are interconnected by seven pillars and contain the movement. The striking train sounds the hours using a large bell and hammer. A pull repeater causes the striking train to sound the hours and quarter hours on request. On the rear plate is a separate, richly engraved gilt plate, behind which is the pendulum; the plate bears the signature Christopher Schöner Augsburg within a cartouche. Johann Christoph Schöner was born in Vienna before 1660, but settled in Augsburg.
In 1681 he married Anna Barbara Greiner, the widow of clockmaker Rochus Stressler, and was subsequently able to set up his own company in that same year, going on to achieve a prolific level of productivity. Countless works by his hand are known and represented in a variety of national and international museums and private collections. His oeuvre consists of table clocks, pocket watches, astronomical clocks and a handful of sundials. Of particular fame is the elaborately decorated silver and partially gilt clock in the Bavarian National Museum, for which he supplied the movement.
Dial
The gilt bronze dial has a silvered numeral ring indicating the hours using Roman numerals and the minutes using Arabic numerals. The four corners of the dial incorporate secondary numeral rings. The lower two of these can be used to secure the pendulum by means of a bracket mechanism to enable safe transportation. The upper left engages and disengages the striking train, and the upper right serves to manually set the month.
The richly worked bronze centre features two winding points, as well as a pendulum aperture below the numeral XII, below which is a band with the inscription Augsburg. Above the IV is a cartouche containing the engraved signature Schüenner.
Case
The movement is housed within a simple rectangular case with an oak core veneered with lavish patterns of tortoiseshell, and mother-of-pearl. The marquetry shows elegant floral motifs with allegories of the four seasons at each of the door’s corners. The lock is encapsulated within a mascaron ornament; on the opposite side of the door is a Cupid figure. The case stands upon a flaring, profiled plinth borne by four flattened gilt brass feet. Similarly, a profiled plinth surmounts the door. The clock is crowned with an openwork chased copper basket top. A handle atop the basket allows the clock to be carried.
Based on the period, the materials used and the quality of the execution, the marquetry can be attributed to Johann Georg Esser (1652-1727), who worked in Augsburg and often collaborated with the otherwise unknown Wolfbauer. Together they produced various works, including several lavishly inlaid items of furniture for Prince-Elector Max Emanuel.
Literature:
Gerhard Hojer en Hans Ottomeyer, Die Möbel der Residenz München II; Die Deutschen Möbel des 16t bis 18t Jahrhundert, 1996, p. 82-94
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