Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Clock, Tall Case |
Catalog Number |
83.39.130 |
Collection |
Timepiece |
Other Name |
Lantern Clock |
Date |
1700-1720 |
Description |
c.1710 Yagura Dokei 4ft Stand The Japanese system of time measurement, before the adoption of the European system in 1873, divided the day into two equal periods of six hours: sunrise to sunset and sunset to sunrise. Both sunrise and sunset were the sixth hour. Because the sun does not rise and set every day of the year at the same time, the duration of the Japanese hour had to be adjusted daily. The adjustment involved the moving of the small weights on the oscillating arm (foliot) inwards (shortening the hour) or outwards (lengthening the hour). Unlike clocks with which most of us are accustomed to, the dial rotates behind a stationary hand. The outer circle contains the Japanese signs of the Zodiac. The inner circle contains the six hours which are repeated. Japanese striking clocks also differe greately from western clocks: hours are struck from nine down to four. The number of blows is an abbreviated form of the product of the hour number and the "magic" number nine. Only the final interger of the product is struck. Thus, when the fourth hour is multiplied by nine and yields thirty-six, the final interger, six, is struck on the bell. The number of blows sounded at the hour run backwards becasue the multiplication of nine results in a last interger which is always one less that the preceding. The Japanese name for this style of clock is Yagura-Dokei. |
Maker |
unknown |
Material |
lantern |
Place of Origin |
Japan |
Notes |
A 30346 Japenese lantern clock, early 18th cent. H²H²W 56²5²3.5 IN²IN²IN approx.o.a.²approx. mvt²approx. mvt Updated by Cara M. Lower 7/24/14 |