Important J. PETER KROESE bracket clock (active... Lot 68

Important J. PETER KROESE bracket clock (active in Amsterdam 1742- ca. 1775). Case in mahogany wood and gilt bronzes. 13 bells. Moon phases. Signed on the dial. Plate engraved with plant motifs. Measurements: 56 x 33 x 18,5 cm. The case of this bracket-type clock is made of mahogany wood and has gilded bronze applications with ornamental motifs worked in relief. It has an architectural structure, the flanks of which are decorated with stipes in the form of female figures in a style that combines the Greek and Egyptian legacies. It has 11 bells, plus one for the hours and another bell for the halfs. Also in bronze are the openwork lattices at the corners of the façade. The dial has Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the minutes, with Louis XV hands. It has a hemisphere for the moon phases and two additional hands. The glazed sides allow a view of the movement and are fitted with a handle for easy carrying. Bracket clocks of English origin are notable mainly for their mechanism, but also for their decoration. This type of clock originated in the 1960s, when the pendulum was applied to the clock, replacing the previous "foliot" or balance regulator. This change made it necessary to provide the mechanism with a case to protect it from shocks that could alter its movement. This was the origin of the watches known in England as brackets, i.e. portable watches. These were short cases which housed a mechanism held between two thick plates and contained, as the driving force for each train, a combination of a hub and a snail. These clocks were originally intended to be placed on a bracket, hence their English name. This bracket was a separate piece that was usually made at the same time, with decoration to match the clock. Later, however, the base and clock began to be made separately. The English developed a watchmaking mechanics distinct from that of the rest of Europe, based on an industry of specialised workshops producing products of great technical perfection. The cases were made by cabinetmakers who enriched the watches, turning them into real jewels. For this reason, throughout the 18th century English clocks and watches were evidence of the stylistic evolution that developed in English cabinetmaking, starting with the William and Mary and Queen Anne models, passing through the Chippendale and Hepplewithe styles and finally returning to classicism with the Adam, the Sheraton and finally the Regency. As for the specific type of bracket clock, it maintained its elegant and stately appearance throughout the 18th century, and by the end of the century the cases would be larger and more monumental. Even in the 17th century, the material used for their manufacture was usually ebony or tortoiseshell, combined with bronze applications. From 1670 onwards, olive and walnut were also common, and later brass began to be used. From the 1720s onwards these woods were replaced by mahogany, which was more suited to the new taste. On the other hand, the dials usually featured engraved numerals on the front plate, or incorporated a silvered hour sector. Later, other elements would be added, such as the seconds hand, located on one side of the central arc, or the date, included on the dial. Even dials for the phases of the moon would be included.