Karl Rorley (Austrian, active late 19th century)
Water Clock (Nasseruhr), 1898
Ormolu, black marble, and glass, 29 × 22 × 10 in.
Signed: Karl Rorley, Erbauer, Brann–Wien, 1898
Water clocks, or nassuhren, were among the most inventive forms of horology produced in Vienna during the late 19th century. Unlike traditional pendulum clocks, these works relied on a steady flow of water to regulate time, making them both scientific instruments and decorative showpieces.
This example, built by Karl Rorley in 1898, combines engineering precision with opulent design. The black marble base and gilt-bronze ornaments feature classical allegories in relief, while the central wheel illustrates mythological figures in elaborate repoussé detail. The glass reservoir below once held the water that powered the mechanism.
Viennese water clocks of this type reflect the fascination of the period with mechanical ingenuity, artistry, and the blending of science with luxury decorative arts. Today they stand as rare survivals of fin-de-siècle horological innovation.
