ABSTRACT

Most of these clocks, which are located in mosques, masjids, tombs and timing halls from the

Ottoman period, are usually over two meters high and are usually over two meters high. These

clocks operate by rotating the axis of the two heavy balls attached to the ends of two chains

entangled in the axis of the wheel. Their machining always ensures a long dancer that moves

left and right. The location of the clocks is usually opposite the mausoleum sarcophagi, near or

adjacent to the door. Some of these clocks, of French, British or other origin, are wall-mounted

or ground-based. Generally, there are ornaments on the pediment, body and lower wooden parts

of the clock. Pencil work appears in geometric ornaments, with a more intense floral ornament.

In addition to showing the time and being able to announce it loudly, these clocks have systems

to play mostly at the hour and half. On the other hand, there are also clocks that have only a

working part and do not have an alarm system. They took place in places of worship where it

is important to work heavily, to work with a certain accuracy due to the constant power of

weight, and to determine the correct time. According to their mechanism, they are set up with

daily, weekly, and fifteen-day setting periods and they work correctly from the moment of

installation until the weights are completely down and the clock stops. The dials are in old

Turkish or Roman numerals, sometimes decorated with flower motifs on white enamel,

sometimes decorated with information such as the name of the master and the year of

construction. Unfortunately, among these Turkish-made clocks, they are completely original

and the product of the imagination and labor of their master. Because there is no such tradition.

Wooden cased and metal-cast clocks made for the Ottoman country in Europe and examples

unearthed with the contribution of local masters are found in mosques, museums and various

mausoleums. Of the 8 mausoleum clocks we examined in Istanbul, all are not in working

condition as they seem. All of the clocks are made of wood, metal and glass. Five of the clocks

have a wooden case and it is possible that wooden materials such as oak and mahogany were

used in their construction. The other three clocks are made of metal and made by casting

technique. The watches are 140 cm tall. with 240 cm. between, their width, 20 cm. with 52 cm.

between, while the depths; 23 cm. with 31 cm. between. Ornament techniques such as carving,

painting, casting, inlaying, pencil work, engraving, and openwork were applied on watches.

Herbal elements such as acanthus, rose, chrysanthemum, wild flower, curved branch, fuchsia,

tulip, violet, rosette flower, hyacinth, leaf, dahlia and clover; geometric elements such as

diamonds, polygons, rectangles, squares, medallions and eggs; Flame, pennant and ornamental

motifs such as fiery and cutting, piercing objects reminiscent of the motifs in the Ottoman coat

of arms, curl, pearl grain or string, sphere, column, vase and fan were used. There is no date in

any of the examples. These clocks can be dated between the first quarter of the 19th century

and the first quarter of the 20th century, according to the clocks with ornaments and similar

patterns found elsewhere.

Keywords: Tomb, wooden case clock,material, motif, ornament.