Rolling Ball Timepiece

The brass frame is joined by four brass columns with ball-and-spire finials and ball feet. The rolling ball platform with fine grooves pivots on knife-edges and trips every 30 seconds with an arcaded bridge in the center of the tray displaying a sliding silvered seconds scale. The movement is housed within a gabled frame fronted by slender silvered rings for hours, minutes and seconds. The signature plaque is signed, Jos. Moxon, London.

This design was patented by William Congreve in 1808, and he licensed the design to various makers. It was a particularly entertaining timepiece that fascinated 19th century patrons, and continues to entertain to this day.