Bidspirit auction | Shaku-Dokey Watch, Japan, 19th century

Shaku-Dokey Watch, Japan, 19th century - Height x width x depth: 51 x 8.5 x 8 cm The upper section, protected by a glass case, features finely openwork brass decorations that offer a glimpse of the mechanical movement.  The slender body is made of wood, which highlights the brass of the plates. At the base, a small secret drawer holds the key.  Designed to be hung, unlike Western clocks of the time, this clock does not use a circular dial; instead, time flows vertically: a hand, attached to the weight descending through the trunk, marks the hours along the scale of plates. This system allowed for adjusting the duration of the hours between day and night, adapting to the changes in sunlight throughout the year.