Clock with Calvary by Allodi

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Description

This rare and precious Calvary clock is a refined example of religious art and devotion. The clock's hexagonal base is … Read more This rare and precious Calvary clock is a refined example of religious art and devotion. The clock's hexagonal base is made of ebonized wood, with six faces featuring small openings designed to reveal the details of the internal movement.

Above the base, two gilded bronze figures represent the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene. Their postures and details are finely crafted, evoking the sacred art of previous centuries.

The centerpiece of the Calvary is the central cross, also in gilded bronze, with Christ crucified. The cross is rich in detail and religious symbolism, with an insignia reading "INRI" placed above Christ's head. At the top of the cross is a globe displaying the six-hour time zone, while at the base is a white enamel twelve-hour dial.

The clock's movement, designed by Ilario Allodi of Parma, follows a French design. It features two barrels, a cylinder escapement, and a striking mechanism that marks the hours and half-hours.

The Dictionary of Italian Watchmakers, written by Enrico Morpurgo, mentions Ilario Allodi, who built a "Calvary" clock with a cylinder escapement in Parma around 1800. Allodi is also mentioned as having created a horizontal clock with a cross next to it. See less