Objekt 30
Night clock
Description
In this Basel-made night clock, the rotating dial consists of a hoop with openwork Roman hour markings. The hand in the shape of a dove, which indicates the hours, is also openworked. A night light placed on the movement case illuminated the clock from behind. The hand and the hour indications were thus illuminated from the back and could be read in the dark. The first usable night clocks were made in Italy in the second half of the 17th century. Night clocks of this type were also made in Germany and Switzerland until the 18th century.
Object description
Maker: Johann Jakob Zeller (1701-1778), signed
Basel, middle of 18th century.
Brass, partly gilded, partly silvered, bronze, iron
Bequest Carl and Lini Nathan-Rupp, Binningen
Inv. 1982.1206.