HSEAD STANDARDS MANUAL

PAINTED DIALS FOR TALL CASE CLOCKS and DIALS FOR BLACK FOREST CLOCKS – Members

REQUIREMENTS

1. Design – 10% of points

Choose a design in character with the period that is intended to represent, and includes sufficient work to demonstrate ability.  Acceptable sizes: 17” x 12” to a maximum of 21” x 15”.

Base materials may be:

  a. Sheet metal – antique or otherwise.
  b. Heavy gauge aluminum or heavy galvanized aluminum.
  c. Masonite: 1/8” minimum thickness, tempered, preferably finished on both sides.
  d. Note:  Wooden dials are not recommended because of their tendency to warp
      and shrink. 

2. Time Track and Lettering – 20% of points

The numerals (whether Roman or Arabic) must be appropriate to the period represented and in the proper scale.  All ink work will be judged here: hours, minutes, and, when required, seconds and days of the month.  On a dial incorporating phases of the moon two hemispheres are standard.  These may be duplicated with the use of a transfer which may be lightly distressed. 

Source of transfers: Bedcoe Dial Co., 3930 N. Grant St., Westmont, IL 60559

Gilded bands edged with an ink line will be judged here.  Striping, if any, will be judged here.

On an antique, small dials indicating seconds or days of the month must be rendered if holes already exist for these features.

If there is a date aperture on an antique dial, this opening must be filled with a date dial.  If this piece is missing, a substitute may be submitted even though it is not horologically functional.  This applies as well to the lunar calendar and moon dial.

Winding holes are not required on a dial that will be fitted to a quartz movement.  False wind holes are acceptable when appropriate. 

3. Arch Painting of Moon Dial – 30% of points

If the style of decoration is Pontypool or Victorian, those standards will be used here.

Gilded areas will be judged according to the standards in Metal Leaf Painting.

Other types of decoration might include figures in a pastoral setting, allegorical figures, hunting scenes, ships and naval engagements, or stylized fruits and flowers.

Moon faces and the flanking scenes will be judged here.

A profusion of stars against a dark background does not meet the requirements for judging a moon dial.

4. Spandrel Decoration – 30% of points

These must incorporate polychrome decoration and will be judged according to the technique involved (Pontypool, Metal Leaf or Victorian).  Other types of decoration  might include shells, fans and other geometric shapes possibly incorporating gold leaf.  For later styles, the spandrels would be completely covered in landscapes and/or figures, some of which could be historical, Biblical, or allegorical; these are sometimes painted on a gilded surface.

Gilded gesso borders and other gesso work (e.g. scrolls) will be judged here.

5. Finish and Overall Feeling – 10% of points

The finish includes preparation, background paint, and final coats of varnish with hand rubbed finish.  Raw (not hand rubbed) varnish, dull type varnish, and sprayed finishes will not be accepted, nor will a crackle finish.

In the interest of conservation, it is recommended that the entire surface of the completed dial be varnished and rubbed down.  However, if the decoration is Pontypool, the finishing methods listed in that category will apply.

The gold leaf covering raised gesso areas is particularly susceptible to damage.  Therefore it is recommended, but not required, that all gold leaf areas be protected by varnish as is the rest of the dial.

If an antique dial is used, pitted areas must be filled.

The completed dial should be a soft, off-white color.  Acceptable colors include: oyster white, ivory, creamy white, or white with a slight green or blue cast.

All work must be done by the exhibiting member. 

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