Generic Description:

Period: Early to Middle, but also later period.

Escapements: Single and double foliot; late examples possibly with balance wheel.

Power Source: Lead weights

Wadokei Type: Yagura-dokei utilise the same style lantern clock as other Wadokei in this Category,

The Wadokei have four round peg feet (similar to a Hashira-dokei and a Dai-dokei) for locating in the top mounting plate, whereas a Wadokei originally intended as a Kake-dokei with hanging hoop to rear, have no feet.

The Yagura stand is more robust than the four-legged Dai-dokei stand. The style is intended to sit on woven Japanese tatami mats, rather than in a tokonoma (alcove).  The stand style was more likely to tolerate earthquakes (several Wadokei on Wadokei stands are known to have fallen off their bases in Tokyo during the 2011 earthquake).

The base of the stand was often much wider than that illustrated right (in my collection), thus providing a very stable support for the Wadokei.

Background to above Wadokei

Purchased from Saitama, Japan, Dec 2020 in need of restoration. Possibly from the offices of an Edo Period governing daimyo due to its metal Paulownia Kamon on the rear panel, plus Chrysanthemum Crest under bell nut.

All original (hand filed) going and strike trains present and in good condition, plus shallow bell and paulownia wood stand..

Bears the maker’s engraved signature: “Fuji-wara Mitsu-yuki, Toki-mori Shige hira, living at Tomi-no-koji (street), Kyoto.”

Date: Estimated to be early 1800’s from its all iron Wadokei mechanism, plus shallow bell design (considered original as it aligns with alarm hammer and foliots).

Restoration of above Wadokei

Replaced components; (a) two verge arbors and foliots – one missing and the other with only a half foliot, (b) whole of day/night changeover mechanism – including sprocket, cams and lifting levers, (c) alarm foliot and hammer, (d) single calendar date wheel, (d) bell nut.

Cleaned and refurbished all existing Wadokei workings and side plates, plus the Yagura pyramid stand was cleaned and oiled.