Helena Almeida: 'Seduzir' [To Seduce, 2002] (detail)

Collection

Reloj de pared [Wall clock]

Image caption
JUNGHANS UHREN GMBH, FÁBRICA DE RELOJES

Reloj de pared [Wall clock]

  • c. 1930
  • Walnut wood, bronze, metal, glass, brass. Carved, gilded, silvered, enamelled, cast
  • 58 x 33 x 16 cm
  • Cat. R_24
  • Observations: Made in Germany. Stamped on the dial, an eight-pointed star enclosing the letter 'J' and the letters 'UNGHANS'. Adhesive stamp: 'ORIGINAL / JUNGHANS / MADE IN GERMANY'.
By:
Amelia Aranda Huete

This wall clock has a rectangular case topped by a semicircle. A glazed wooden door to the front reveals and protects the dial. A glazed oval aperture in the lower section shows the movement of the pendulum.

The dial is a silvered metal plate framed in gilt moulding. The hours are shown in black-painted Arabic numerals from 1 to 12 and, in smaller numbers from 13 to 24. Blued brass hands with diamond-shaped tips. Two winding holes. Above the hand stem is the Junghans trademark — an eight-pointed star enclosing a capital 'J' and 'UNGHANS' around it in smaller letters, enamelled in black. Movement suspension system.

German Junghans movement. Pendulum with polished brass bob and wooden pendulum stick. Gong strike. Gilded brass plate for measuring pendulum swing. Winding key.

On 14 April 1861, Erhard Junghans went into partnership with his brother-in-law Jakob Zeller-Tobler to create a clock components factory (Zeller und Junghans) in the small town of Schramberg in Baden-Württemberg (Black Forest). The company began by manufacturing components for large Black Forest clocks, wooden cases, bronze plates, hands, hinges, glass doors and pendulums. From 1866, several master clockmakers at the firm began designing and building the first Junghans clocks. They soon came to be a watchword for perfection and precision.

In 1888, the company started using a five-pointed star with the letter J in the centre. Two years later, in 1890, the trademark was registered, and the star was extended to eight points, in a stylised reference to the shape of a pinion wheel. The rest of the brand name was also added to the initial. By then the firm had already developed and patented a large number of high-precision mechanisms.

By 1903 it was the largest manufacturer of timepieces in the world. The factory has always enjoyed major output, even throughout the two world wars, and many of its models can be seen in museums in Europe and the Americas. The company began making wristwatches in 1927.

Amelia Aranda Huete

 
By:
Amelia Aranda Huete
Junghans Uhren GmbH, fábrica de relojes
Schramberg (Baden-Württemberg) 1861

This Junghans brand was founded in 1861 in the Black Forest in Germany. On 14 April, Erhard Junghans went into partnership with his brother-in-law Jakob Zeller-Tobler to create a clock components factory (Zeller und Junghans) in the small town of Schramberg in Baden-Württemberg.

The company began by manufacturing individual parts for large Black Forest clocks: wooden cases, bronze shields, hands, hinges, glass doors and pendulum discs. From 1866, several master clockmakers at the firm began designing and building the first Junghans clocks. They soon came to be a watchword for perfection and precision.

In 1888, the company began using a five-pointed star with the letter J in the centre. Two years later, in 1890, the trademark was registered, and the star was extended to eight points in a stylised reference to the shape of a pinion wheel. The rest of the brand name was also added to the initial. By then the firm had already developed and patented a large number of high-precision mechanisms.

By 1903 it was the largest manufacturer of timepieces in the world, with 3,000 employees and annual sales of over three million clocks and watches. The 1930s was a particularly important decade, with the company successfully attaining very high levels of quality. Their clocks and watches were widely affordable and achieved worldwide popularity. During this period, too, Junghans began producing the first of its legendary 'Meister' watches, considered to be its most elegant model.

The 1950s also occupy an important place in the company's long history, with Junghans becoming the largest manufacturer of chronometers in Germany. In 1961, Uhrenfabriken Gebrüder Junghans A. G. set new standards in clock and watch production. The factory continues to operate at its original location. In 1833, working in collaboration with Junghans, Paul Landsberger founded the Hamburg-Amerikanische Uhrenfabrik (H. A. U.) brand in Württemberg, Germany, with its symbol of two crossed arrows.

On 27 August 1872, Landsberger married Frida, the daughter of founder Erhard Junghans. To overcome economic difficulties, he went into partnership with Junghans.

The factory has always had large output, even during the two world wars, and many of its models can be seen in museums in Europe and the Americas. Junghans began making wristwatches in 1927.

Amelia Aranda Huete