A Black Forest eight-day clock. It’s nothing unusual–is it? On the contrary. This clock was not made for selling but rather as a model for clock-makers. It is a “Standard Clock 5a”, constructed by Lorenz Furtwängler and commissioned by the Grand Ducal Clock-Making School of Baden in Furtwangen.
One of Director Robert Gerwig’s objectives was to “eliminate the diverse variety in the construction of otherwise similar clocks”. To meet this end, he developed production samples of clocks that would be depicted and described in the “Trade Journal for the Black Forest”.
Also, the school sent production samples as examples to various communities, where the samples met with little enthusiasm. The Black Forest clock-makers preferred adhering to their traditional manner of craftsmanship.
Today, this production sample of a clock by Lorenz Furtwängler is a fascinating object, for it shows us the state-of-the-art in technology and craftsmanship for the Black Forest clocks of its time.
Production sample of a clock from the Grand Ducal Clock-making School of Baden, Furtwangen, made by Lorenz Furtwängler, Gütenbach, 1852, Inv. 2017-15