THE ODO « MAKURA DOKEI », JAPANESE STRIKING TRAVELLING BRACKET CLOCK WITH ORIGINAL CASE

 

ICONEEK price: SOLD

 

 

Iconeek is proud to introduce here a mint, very rare and unusual Japanese key-wound clock made circa 1870, striking « hours » and « half-hours ». Prior to use the average measuring time (a day is divided into 24 hours), under the Meiji era (1868-1911), Japanese timekeepers were built on the true solar time system (each day has different length based on sun). Modern time-reckoning in equal hours was not introduced into Japan until 1870. Before this time, Japan used a temporal hours system, similar to that of Europe’s in the middle ages. After 4-5 years of the Meiji era (circa 1872), solar based Japanese clocks were useless and definitively replaced by occidental ones for commercial reasons as the Japanese frontiers were closed till 1867. 

 

Protected by a wooden and glazed rectangular Shintan travelling outer case, including a small front drawer for the key,  this late 19th gilt brass clock is set four turned pillars with four finials, rectangular horizontal plates. The dial is composed with Shakudo adjustable hour and half-hour plaques, pierced blued steel indexes, blued steel hand. These clocks were set with 12 « Toki » , each Toki is approximatively 2 hours, while a full year is divided into 24 « Sekki » (Japanese months). The late Makura Dokei clocks were not only striking the Toki, but also the « half Toki » for a better understanding of time passing.  As the dial is set for 24 hours, the index are set with Zodiacal signs in order to distinguish day time to Night time. In the same manner, as it is a 24-hour dial, each Toki represents 2 hours, and half-toki are in fact 1 hour. Depending of the seasons, the mobile indexes can be individually adjusted. The front plate bears two apertures for the calendar.

 

The visible one-day key-wound gilt brass movement is rectangular, full plates engraved with floral decoration, turned brass corner pillars, going train with fusee and chain, double apertures for the sexagenary calendar, verge escapement, plain heavy two-arm brass balance, flat balance spring, index regulator with blued steel Flower tip. Striking train with going barrel and traditional Japanese count wheel on the back plate, striking on bell, fixed above the balance, blued steel screws, key wound.

 

Condition: extremely good overall condition, fully serviced recently, in working order, outer case with signs of wear