Table Clock
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Caption
Johann Sayller. Table Clock, 17th century. Bronze, silver and steel, 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (11.4 x 14 x 14 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of James Hazen Hyde, 60.12.83. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 60.12.83_side_bw.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Maker
Title
Table Clock
Date
17th century
Medium
Bronze, silver and steel
Classification
Dimensions
4 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (11.4 x 14 x 14 cm)
Markings
"Johann Sayller Ulms" in script on bottom
Credit Line
Bequest of James Hazen Hyde
Accession Number
60.12.83
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
Frequent Art Questions
Are the panels specific allegories or tales? Or are they just archetypes?
We have been doing research on that clock, but haven't been able to identify exactly which allegories are depicted.We do know that the artist spent most of his life in Ulm, Germany, so one avenue that we are exploring is the possibility that they may represent stories from the German folklore or history. Some visitors have suggested they may be biblical scenes.This clock looks like the markings on top indicate calendar days. Does it also follow phases of the moon?
By 1600, timepieces in western Europe could tell the phases of the moon as well as the time of day and the day of the month.The maker, Sayller, was appointed Master of the Clockmakers' Guild in Ulm, Germany, so he was obviously at the top of his field! And yes, Sayller did create clocks and even watches that could indicate the phases of the moon, so your hunch is correct!Great! This app is seriously cool, thanks!Can you tell me about this?
This little "Table Clock" was created by Johann Sayller and those panels show different allegories.If you look closely at the top of the clock, you can see it not only follows time but also the phases of the moon! It's a really beautiful piece. Did you have a specific question or curiosity about the clock?No thank you, that was great! Especially the part about the moon.You're welcome! It's a very elaborate, but small piece, many people miss out on it so I'm glad it caught your attention.This is beautiful.
If you look closely at the top of the clock, you can see it not only follows time but also the phases of the moon. By 1600, European time pieces could tell the phases of the moon as well as the time of day and the day of the month.The maker, Sayller, was appointed Master of the Clockmakers' Guild in Ulm, Germany, he was quite masterful at creating elaborate, yet elegant clocks. This clock in particular depicts several allegories across its sides.Who are the people on the sides of this clock?
As you may have read on the label, each side of the clock represents a different continent through an allegory. So, the people aren't specific individuals, but examples of people from each of the 4 continents known to Europeans in the 17th century. This side represents Europe. Moving to the right, you'll see Africa, America, and Asia respectively.
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