Japanese Shitan Wood Time & Strike Stick Clock
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A clock such as this one exemplifies the aesthetics of 19th century Japanese design
Key Features
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- This exceptional Edo period striking wall clock includes a rare Shitan wood case
- A clock such as this one exemplifies the basic aesthetics of 19th century Japanese design
- Edo homes relied on the natural beauty of wood objects to communicate prestige and rank
- The clock is simple and yet detailed and intricate, highlighting a minimal and naturalistic style
- A rare and unique timepiece such as this emphasizes the artistic use of organic materials
- Circa 1840
- 45" length
Item Details
- Period:
19th Century - Origin:
Other
This exceptional, working Edo-period striking wall clock, or Shaku-Dokei, exemplifies the best of 19th-century Japanese design. One of the largest Shitan clocks known, it measures time with a balance/verge movement, a type of movement which predated the pendulum. This rare mechanism can be viewed behind the elaborately engraved front plate, while an engraved scale and inlaid hour and half-hour markers complete this ingenious timepiece. During the Edo period, Japanese feudal lords began to construct grand homes that demonstrated their wealth and power, relying on the natural beauty of a variety of woods to indicate prestige and rank. This exquisite clock would have been a powerful expression of the traditional Japanese sensibility of simplicity and modernism, while still emphasizing the quality and luxury of elegant design.
Circa 1840
45" length
Circa 1840
45" length
