Anthony Drabsch, Jigsaw Mantle Clock (RECYCLED & RESCUED 2023)

Photos:

Anthony Drabsch

Country:

Australia

This clock represents a milestone in my wooden clock making journey. My previous clocks are two and a half times bigger and reducing the scale for this clock presented a new set of challenges. No longer do I cut and assemble finished wheels. Instead, every constituent piece (each wheel consists of more than 40 individual pieces) is cut oversize, assembled and cut to profile ensuring the accuracy of each part, so important in a clock this size. The other advantage with this method of construction is the grain of the timber can be oriented to maximise the strength and minimise expansion in critical directions due to humidity. (More detail on building this clock can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/anthonydrabsch) The Recycled and Rescued category really suits my style of construction. Every piece of wood used in this clock has a story and connection to me. Re-sawn redgum fence posts from a family farm make the wheel centres, drive weight and hour and minute hand counterbalances – it machines beautifully but is no good for fine detail as it chips. A close friend replaced their deck and the 20-year-old boards, planed down, to form the dial, hands and pendulum bob – chosen for its contrasting grain once the surface was removed - and a source of many splinters. Finally, the teeth are cut from Tassie oak floorboards from the house we rebuilt and the frame is the last of the tank stand from the same house. It is a relief to have this clock finished after a build time of nearly 18 months and an honour to be able to enter in this year’s Maker of the Year competition. There are so many great entries this year. Good luck to all of the other entrants.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.