2722
JOHANN GESSNER IN WIEN. A MONTH DURATION MAHOGANY LATERNDLUHR. CIRCA 1830.

A fine and beautifully proportioned month duration mahogany and boxwood strung Laterndluhr. The case with an ogee moulded roof has fine quality mahogany veneers and exceptionally good proportions. It has the usual opening front top door and lift off hood with lift out middle and bottom doors. It has double screwed stabilizing screws at the base of the case and a silvered brass beat plaque.

The month duration weight driven movement is of very fine quality, as one would expect from Fertbauer’s Manager. It has finely executed wheel work and end stops to the top of the train. It has maintaining power and nicely shaped pillars. All of the click work on the main barrel is hidden within the wheel which is unusual for Viennese work but is of the finest quality.

The dial is of two piece construction with a gilded engine turned centre and a nicely shaped signature plaque for the maker ‘Johann Gessner.’ The gilded engine turned bezel is of high quality and the clock has a steel rod pendulum with heavy brass bob.

Length: 40" (102 cms.)

The maker, Johann Gessner, was apprenticed to one of the best Viennese makers, Philipp Fertbauer, and went on to become his Workshop Manager. It is understood that he continued the business after Fertbauer’s death in 1820. This clock which is a relatively early, but standard shaped Laterndluhr, shows the finest workmanship and a number of interesting adaptations from the norm. Just the sort of things one would expect from the Workshop Manager of one of the great Viennese makers.

Gessner died in 1843 and so only had a relatively short time as a clockmaker by himself.