100th Auction
2019/11/15
Lot 14
Christian Friedrich Tiede, Berlin, Height 490 mm, circa 1840
An important small half seconds precision regulator of museum quality, with up side down pendulum lever escapement, hidden weight and up/down indicator - 7 days power reserve
Case: carved wooden case covered with gold leaf, back covered with velvet. Dial: silvered. Movm.: circular brass plate movement diameter 10 cm, Tiede's zinc/steel-compensation pendulum, pendulum spring suspension.
The inexhaustible fund of information available in Jürgen Ermert’s series on precision pendulum clocks (now comprising five volumes) gives us a reprint of an article published in the German horological magazine of 1914, entitled: "A Graham anchor without pallets". Wilhelm Schultz, clockmaker, editor and author of various publications discusses an "unusual escapement" – the description of the clock in question indicates that it was most likely this wall clock made by Tiede: "The solid but relatively small movement (the plates have diameters of only 10 cm each) was probably intended for testing purposes and has been meticulously finished – something all items produced in Tiede’s workshop have in common." He comments on the inverted escapement and the "anchor without pallets": "The most peculiar aspect of this movement, however, is the fact that the anchor has no pallet staff but is simply linked to the pendulum spring." Schultz compares this construction to Riefler’s escapement and shows that - while there are similarities in the two designs - the mode of operation is different. By 1914 the original escapement of this clock was unfortunately already damaged; it was replaced by a pin pallet escapement later but still set up to work as a swinging lever and preserving the original escape wheel. Ermert comments on the escapement: "Concept of an early lever escapement, presumably designed before the Winnerl/Lange escapement of 1841. It is possible that, while he was working for Gutkaes, Tiede could have come across the mechanism in a regulator clock made by Conrad Salomo Weisse of Dresden circa 1820. Friedrich Tiede may have had some input also when his friend Adolph Lange designed a similar type of escapement." (Jürgen Ermert, "Präzisionspendeluhren" (precision pendulum clocks), Vol. 4, p. 324).
The case is covered with gold foil and has a velvet-covered back panel; it is mostly in original condition. The beautiful clock face signed "Fr. Tiede, Berlin" is relatively small with a size of 9.5 cm only. It is fitted with an up/down indication, because the block weight moves hidden inside the case. The bob of the zinc/steel compensation pendulum is intricately ornamented.
Friedrich Tiede (1794-1877) studied watchmaking in Wismar. He subsequently studied at Delolme in Braunschweig and later on at Gutkaes in Dresden. There he became close friends with Adolf Lange. Since the circumstances in his homeland did not favour his return, he established himself in Berlin, where he manufactured chronometers and excellent precision regulators. Even though he possessed letters of commendation from Alexander von Humbolt and several other great scholars, he remained modest and would constantly strive to help the people around him. He particularly supported Ferdinand Adolf Lange, taking frequent to Glashütte to see him and giving him valuable advice. In 1838 obtained a patent as the royal astronomical watchmaker at court.
Source: C. Dietschold, Der Cornelius Nepos der Uhrmacher, Dietschold's Verlag 1911.
An important small half seconds precision regulator of museum quality, with up side down pendulum lever escapement, hidden weight and up/down indicator - 7 days power reserve
Case: carved wooden case covered with gold leaf, back covered with velvet. Dial: silvered. Movm.: circular brass plate movement diameter 10 cm, Tiede's zinc/steel-compensation pendulum, pendulum spring suspension.
The inexhaustible fund of information available in Jürgen Ermert’s series on precision pendulum clocks (now comprising five volumes) gives us a reprint of an article published in the German horological magazine of 1914, entitled: "A Graham anchor without pallets". Wilhelm Schultz, clockmaker, editor and author of various publications discusses an "unusual escapement" – the description of the clock in question indicates that it was most likely this wall clock made by Tiede: "The solid but relatively small movement (the plates have diameters of only 10 cm each) was probably intended for testing purposes and has been meticulously finished – something all items produced in Tiede’s workshop have in common." He comments on the inverted escapement and the "anchor without pallets": "The most peculiar aspect of this movement, however, is the fact that the anchor has no pallet staff but is simply linked to the pendulum spring." Schultz compares this construction to Riefler’s escapement and shows that - while there are similarities in the two designs - the mode of operation is different. By 1914 the original escapement of this clock was unfortunately already damaged; it was replaced by a pin pallet escapement later but still set up to work as a swinging lever and preserving the original escape wheel. Ermert comments on the escapement: "Concept of an early lever escapement, presumably designed before the Winnerl/Lange escapement of 1841. It is possible that, while he was working for Gutkaes, Tiede could have come across the mechanism in a regulator clock made by Conrad Salomo Weisse of Dresden circa 1820. Friedrich Tiede may have had some input also when his friend Adolph Lange designed a similar type of escapement." (Jürgen Ermert, "Präzisionspendeluhren" (precision pendulum clocks), Vol. 4, p. 324).
The case is covered with gold foil and has a velvet-covered back panel; it is mostly in original condition. The beautiful clock face signed "Fr. Tiede, Berlin" is relatively small with a size of 9.5 cm only. It is fitted with an up/down indication, because the block weight moves hidden inside the case. The bob of the zinc/steel compensation pendulum is intricately ornamented.
Friedrich Tiede (1794-1877) studied watchmaking in Wismar. He subsequently studied at Delolme in Braunschweig and later on at Gutkaes in Dresden. There he became close friends with Adolf Lange. Since the circumstances in his homeland did not favour his return, he established himself in Berlin, where he manufactured chronometers and excellent precision regulators. Even though he possessed letters of commendation from Alexander von Humbolt and several other great scholars, he remained modest and would constantly strive to help the people around him. He particularly supported Ferdinand Adolf Lange, taking frequent to Glashütte to see him and giving him valuable advice. In 1838 obtained a patent as the royal astronomical watchmaker at court.
Source: C. Dietschold, Der Cornelius Nepos der Uhrmacher, Dietschold's Verlag 1911.
estimated
16.000—25.000 €
Price realized
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