Congreve Rolling Ball Clock SOLD

A small mid Century ‘Congreve’ Rolling Ball Clock with a pedimented top housing the dials and pierced brass movement, the central Arabic minute chapter ring flanked by hour and seconds dials. The movement is a twin train driven eight day movement, raised on mahogany plinth with turned brass feet, under an acrylic cover.

Sir William Congreve was an artillery officer and prolific inventor. He is best known for the design of the military rocket. He became comptroller of the Royal Laboratory of Woolwich Arsenal between 1814-22 and from 1818 until his death, He was the inventor of the rolling ball clock and an 'extreme' detached escapement, a weight driven example of which can be seen in John Nash's Rotunda at Woolwich.

This clock is pleasingly small at only 23cm tall, the dynamic rolling ball tilting plate making up the time keeping element for the clock.

23cm H x 23cm W x 15cm D