Carol Schmidt, Augsburg, 1st quarter 17th century
Hour striking train
figure: bronze, fire gilt
base: wood painted black, glass and iron
mechanism: brass and iron
plates gilt
spring with gut line on a fusee
bell: bronze
dial: silver, enamelled on the inside
hands: blued steel
height 32 cm, width 78 cm, depth 15.8 cm
Inv. 1982.1197.
Carol Schmidt, born probably in 1586 in Augsburg, became a master in 1614 and died in 1635/36. His signature, "Carll Schmidt", is engraved on the back plate. The dial has Roman (I-XII) and Arabic (13-24) numerals for the hours. The monkey sits on the gilded, engraved brass plate which closes the hexagonal case. Its right shoulder joint, jaw and eyes move. In its left hand it holds a mirror, in its right an apple which it raises to its open mouth when the hour strikes, as if to bite into it. The rolling eyes are connected to the going train. On its head it wears a fool's cap and a crown.
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