clock

Although there is no reliable record of its origin or history, the clock is thought to have been made in the Grand Duchy of Baden in Germany about the middle of the 19th century. Not all of the internal mechanism of the clock is original, owing to necessary replacements and repairs over the years. The case is of walnut. The clock has been at the Museum since it was opened in the present building in 1901. An architect's drawing for the Museum in the London Metropolitan Archives shows the pencilled instruction: ‘place for Strasbourg clock' in the balustraded area where the clock is now located. The clock chimes every quarter and on the hour. In addition, at 4 p.m., figures in the middle chamber below the dial appear, enacting successive scenes in the life of Christ. There are three principal groups: the Nativity, Christ talking to the elders in the temple and the three Marys outside the sepulchre. In the compartment above the clock face, the apostles pass one at a time in front of the figure of Christ, bowing their heads as they move towards him; but Judas, the last to appear, turns away from him. As the apostles approach Christ, the figure turns to show Christ on the cross. After Judas has passed it turns again to show Christ in Majesty. The tableaux in the four side chambers, containing the gongs, represent phases of man's life from childhood to old age. The figures move to the accompaniment of chimes thought to represent old German hymn tunes.