Longcase Equation Regulator, by William Dutton

An image of Longcase Equation Regulator. Longcase clock. Dutton, William, clockmaker (English, c. 1704-94, London). The clock has a month duration movement. The enamelled dial is signed ‘Wm Dutton/London’. A calendar ring in the arch rotates once per year and indicates the days of the month, months, signs of the zodiac and times of sunrise. The case is mahogany with fine mahogany veneer. Dial: Gilt dial plate with break arch. Engraved rococo decoration in spandrels; this was covered by later repoussé silver spandrels which have been removed. Chapter disc, calendar ring and age of moon ring all of fired enamel, with 'Wm. Dutton London' (m raised) inscribed on the centre of the chapter disc. A calendar ring in the arch rotates once per year and indicates days of month, months, and signs of zodiac each divided into 30 degrees, and times of sunrise. Inside this ring is a separate one which shows the age of the moon with each day divided into four. The phases of the moon are indicated by a rotating sphere with one half silvered and the other half painted dark blue. Mean time is shown by a pair of delicately pierced blued steel hands, and solar time is indicated directly by a gilt brass minute hand bearing an effigy of the sun. The right hand winding square is for winding the movement, the left hand one for setting the calendar. Movement: Four latched pillars to month timepiece movement with inverted train, escapement at the bottom to make room for the calendar and equation work. Mahogany case, enamel dial, engraved spandrels, height 217.2 cm, height 196.9 cm, circa 1775.

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Longcase Equation Regulator. Longcase clock. Dutton, William, clockmaker (English, c. 1704-94, London). The clock has a month duration movement. The enamelled dial is signed ‘Wm Dutton/London’. A calendar ring in the arch rotates once per year and indicates the days of the month, months, signs of the zodiac and times of sunrise. The case is mahogany with fine mahogany veneer. Dial: Gilt dial plate with break arch. Engraved rococo decoration in spandrels; this was covered by later repoussé silver spandrels which have been removed. Chapter disc, calendar ring and age of moon ring all of fired enamel, with 'Wm. Dutton London' (m raised) inscribed on the centre of the chapter disc. A calendar ring in the arch rotates once per year and indicates days of month, months, and signs of zodiac each divided into 30 degrees, and times of sunrise. Inside this ring is a separate one which shows the age of the moon with each day divided into four. The phases of the moon are indicated by a rotating sphere with one half silvered and the other half painted dark blue. Mean time is shown by a pair of delicately pierced blued steel hands, and solar time is indicated directly by a gilt brass minute hand bearing an effigy of the sun. The right hand winding square is for winding the movement, the left hand one for setting the calendar. Movement: Four latched pillars to month timepiece movement with inverted train, escapement at the bottom to make room for the calendar and equation work. Mahogany case, enamel dial, engraved spandrels, height 217.2 cm, height 196.9 cm, circa 1775.

Image data

Accession Number: M.5-1965
Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Aperture: f/9.5
Focal length: 80
Camera: Hasselblad H3DII-31
Photographer name: Andrew Norman
Image height: 1025 pixels
Image width: 714 pixels
Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.4 (Windows)
Filesize: 772.65kB
Exposure time: 1/4
ISO Speed: 800
Fnumber: 95/10
Captured: 2016:06:07 10:39:48

Key words

18th Century astrological astrology calendar case chapter disc chapter ring clock dial dial plate enamel enamelled English engraved engraving equation regulator Fitz_AA Georgian longcase clock mahogany signature signed spandrels timepiece watch William Dutton wood wooden zodiac

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            "Longcase Equation Regulator, by William Dutton"
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