{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O381548"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O381548/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GD7802/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GD7802/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GD7802","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GD7803","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O381548/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O381548","accessionNumber":"M.49-1995","objectType":"Lantern clock","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"An alarm lantern clock by Richard Ames, London with dolphin cresting, brass dial engraved with tulip flower and leaves, resting on ball feet and surmounted by a bell with five brass finials, circa 1650. The bells of these domestic time pieces could be heard throughout the home thus providing a central source of information on the time of day.","physicalDescription":"This wall clock has a square bottom. with dolphin cresting at the front and sides and top plates in the form of pierced foliate strapwork  featuring tulip flowers and leaves. It is surmounted by a large bell. The dial has a prominent chapter ring with large Roman numerals; a single hand to register the hours and another to register the minutes.  The small dial in the middle of the main dial can be turned to set the alarm. The turned baluster finials are matched by finials either side of the top plate and surmounting the four brackets which hold the bell in place. \n\nCASE: Posted brass frame, dolphin frets above, supported on ball feet with five turned baluster finials, that above the bell has lost its upper section.  The front fret signed beneath the dolphins Richard Ames London\n\nDIAL: Brass dial-plate, crudely engraved with tulip and foliage with brass chapter ring with Roman hour numerals, the alarm dial of iron, with Arabic numerals with iron hour and minute hands with fleur de lis ends. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Ames, Richard","id":"AUTH347042"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":"Richard Ames was apprenticed to Peter Closon in 1649 and was subsequently  is listed as a clockmaker in the parish of St Andrew's Holborn, London from1657-1682; he was succeeded by his widow Katherine;  (Brian Loomes, <i>Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World</i>, 2006). "}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"brass (alloy)","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"iron","id":"AAT11002"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"},{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53829"},{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"Piercing","id":"AAT231153"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Brass, iron, cast, turned and pierced and engraved","categories":[{"text":"Clocks & Watches","id":"THES48976"},{"text":"Scientific instruments","id":"THES49042"}],"styles":[{"text":"baroque","id":"AAT21147"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2013GD7802","2013GD7803"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES303520"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Clock","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1650-1660","earliest":"1650-01-01","latest":"1660-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":"Lantern clocks were first made in Europe in the 16th century for domestic use. They were hung on a wall and designed with a square bottom and top plates surmounted by a large bell. The origin of the name is not known but the form does resemble a lantern in shape. They are usually made in brass, an alloy of copper, sometimes described as latten, which may also explain the use of the term 'lantern clock'. "}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Estella Canziani","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"350","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"12/03/2013","earliest":"2013-03-12","latest":"2013-03-12"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"160","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"12/03/2013","earliest":"2013-03-12","latest":"2013-03-12"},"part":"clock face","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Richard Ames London","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Richard Ames is recorded a working in London from circa 1657 to his death in 1682 when his wife Katherine took over his business "}],"objectHistory":"The clock was one of two clocks bequeathed by Estella Canziani; amongst thirteen objects including jewellery and silver. Canziani was an artist friend of Dr Hildburgh, a leading benefactor of the V&A. ","historicalContext":"Designed to hang on a hook or stand on  a bracket high up on the wall, this clock  struck the hours on the large bell  mounted at the top of the clock which  could be heard all over the house. ","briefDescription":"Lantern clock, brass,  by Richard Ames London about 1650 with dolphin cresting at front and sides; the dial engraved with a tulip and tulip leaves, resting on four ball feet, with four baluster finials.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.49-1995"],"accessionNumberNum":"49","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1995,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Previous LOST number","id":"THES50310"},"number":"MET.LOST.967"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-22","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}