Augsburg Clock by Caspar Hoffman.

 Post in Preparation.

Spectacular Augsburg Clock.

c. 1680.

  Caspar Hoffmann.

Museums Landschaft Hessen Kassel.

Inventory No.:   APK U 75.

              

Size -140 x 82 x 60 cms.

https://datenbank.museum-kassel.de/226695/0/0/0/s14/0/100/objekt.html

 Description from the website

The Augsburg ceremonial clock was a focal point in the center of the watch room of the Kunsthaus, which Landgrave Carl set up from 1696.

 The councilors Uffenbach from Frankfurt mention them in their description of a visit in 1709: „ In the middle there was a very large artificial clockwork on one foot, like a pyramid, whereupon many people could be seen. “ In addition to the time and date, the clock was decorated with moving figures. Four putti, a Mercury figure and a nest full of eagles could turn around themselves. On the railing of the top floor, a ball apparently ran infinitely in a circle and in the body of the bottom floor there is a musical play. The watch was able to play four different, dance-like melodies. How the clock got into Carl's collection is unclear, you can only rule out a commissioned work with certainty. These were usually equipped with Carl's lettering or an image program related to his usual allegorical representations of Minerva and Hercules. However, neither is the case here. It remains to be seen whether it could have been a diplomatic gift or a targeted purchase. In any case, Carl valued the Augsburg silver works and bought objects again and again between 1700 and 1711.

 

( R. Giesemann, 2018 )