An impressive burl walnut-cased tall clock with a brass composite dial signed "Jan Breukelaar, Amsterdam." EEE-5.
Jan Breukelaar is a listed in J. Zeeman's book, De Nederlandse Staande Klok. He is recorded as a Poorter of Amsterdam in 1761 and married in 1767. He served his apprenticeship under Antonie van Oopstrom, who worked at Grote Kattenburgerstraat and eventually took over the business. On February 20, 1768, he advertised in the Amsterdam Courant that he would continue to repair the clocks of Van Oostrom's customers. Breukelaar was also a co-signer of the watchmakers' request of 1790.
This brass composite dial features a traditional Dutch display, a recognizable format from across the room. The time ring of this dial is brass and has been skillfully engraved in the Dutch style. Its formatting is complex and features an interior minute ring with alternating arrows at the two-minute position. Large Roman-style hour numerals are separated from the Arabic five-minute markers by an additional closed-minute track of the acaded form. Mote the engraved decorations positioned between each hour. The Maker's name and working location are located in the lower section of this chapter ring. The center of the dial is matted. The informational display windows are decorated with engraved designs. These include a compass star found inside the second-hand circle, an urn around the date window, and cross-hatching details around the day of the week and month calendar displays. The seconds ring is positioned above the center arbor. A window at the bottom of the matted area displays the numeral day of the month. The triangular-shaped window on the left of the seconds dial displays the month and the number of days in that month. The matching window on the right shows the day of the week and the Zodiac sign associated with that day. Engraved classical figures are also depicted in these locations. The disk mounted under the hands is used to set the alarm function. The winding arbors are ring-turned. In the lunette is a moon phase disk or lunar calendar. The moons are engraved and separated by a blue-painted starry night scene. The inner numerical ring tracks the day of the lunar month. The smaller ring above it displays the hour of high tide in Amsterdam. Around the arch is an engraved view of the sky. Below the lunar calendar dial are engraved views of a village, a canal, a marsh, a Dutch fluyt (merchant ship), and a coastal scene. The edge of the dial sheet is decorated with engravings. The applied brass spandrels are a rococo theme.
This clock's time, strike, and alarm movement is a testament to its excellent quality and durability. Made of brass, it has an eight-day duration when fully wound. It features the traditional Dutch striking system, striking each hour on a large bell and each half-hour on a smaller bell. The alarm mechanism, mounted to the side of the movement, is wound by pulling on a cord inside the case that raises a small weight. When set, it will strike or sound an alarm on a bell. The alarm is set from the alarm disk mounted behind the hands.
The case exhibits excellent burl walnut veneers that cover the entire oak substructure. The historic surface presents an excellent mellow tone that enhances the appearance of the burl wood grain. This long case is nicely proportioned and features several interesting construction details typically found on clocks made in Amsterdam during this period of clockmaking. The case proudly stands on bracket feet. The front two are set on the corners at a 45-degree angle. The design transitions through the length of the base panel and into the lower waist molding. This construction is sometimes called a mock bombe'. The front facings and the base panel are decorated with line inlays. The two sheets of veneer selected to decorate the base panel are bookmatched.
The waist of this case is long and narrow, and its front corners are canted. This canted design gets its cue from the design of the base and the appropriate moldings. The waist door is an interesting shape. It is trimmed with an applied half-round molding along its perimeter. An applied carved detail decorates the top. The panel is veneered with two long sheets of bookmatched veneer. This panel is also line inlaid. The center of this door is cut open and fitted with glass. Through this window, one can see the brass-covered pendulum bob as it swings across the opening, which is framed with a fancy cast brass rococo-style decoration.
The fanciful, arched molding at the bonnet's top is nicely formed. The blind frets are wonderfully executed and are backedin a sand-colored silk cloth. This detail allows the sound of the bells to resonate more easily from the inside of the case when the clock is striking. The bonnet door is arched at the top and is fitted with clear glass. Linear bonnet columns are applied to the door frame and terminate in brass capitals. The applied caddy top and the three-period figural finials are surmounting this case. The center one depicts Atlas. He is supporting the Universe on his shoulders.
This clock was made circa 1765.
This clock, a towering testament to the artistry and craftsmanship of the Dutch form, proudly stands approximately 9 feet 3 inches (111 inches) tall to the top of the center finial, commanding attention and evoking a sense of grandeur.
Inventory Number EEE-5.
