This table clock depicting St. John the Evangelist was purchased from antique-dealer María Pilar Ylarri Ortiz [1] for 45,000 pesetas on 14 June 1974. The curator at the Banco de España recommended its purchase as it met several requirements: it was exactly of the right size to be placed on the cabinet in Mr. Alcocer’s office, the subject of the case was very original and it was a quality timepiece.

The bluing bronze figure of St. John the Evangelist, seated on a gilded bronze footstool, is resting his right arm on the case with the clock face and movement. An eagle – the symbol of the Evangelist – is perched on it, along with a phylactery or strip with the words SAINT-JEAN on the front and EVANGILE SELON on the back. On the other side of the clock there are books and a cross. The set is on a tiered white marble base decorated with gilded bronze beading and standing on six flattened ball feet.

The face is in white porcelain with the hours in Roman numerals. Metal hinds ending in a clover and two keyholes.

The movement is French with two wheel trains. The wheel train or movement with spring drive keeps the watch running for eight days, with pin-pellet escapement and pendulum. Hour and half-hour striking mechanism using a countwheel and chime. The back plaque has a stamp that reads Barbot and, around it, ETABLISSEMENTS DE PARIS. Back door protecting the movement.

[1] With an antique shop on Ribera de Curtidores.

Amelia Aranda Huete