Carved Clock Case in the Organ’s Parapet in the Cathedral of Graz
Type
Sculptural decoration
Critical History
Documents mention that Philipp Jakob Straub created carvings for the Cathedral of Graz between 1745 and 1747.1 In 1745, Straub made a carved clock case for a clock in the vestry for 2 fl 30 kr.2 It shows filigree gilded rocaille and volutes which form a frame on three sides of the clockcase. Today, these carvings can be found in the middle of the organ’s parapet (in 1913 the clock was replaced by one with a large movement).
Construction / Execution
The carvings are made of wood and they are gilded.
Components
Carpentry
Completed: 1745
Technique(s): sawing
Material(s): wood
Sculpture
Author: Philipp Jakob Straub (Wiesensteig 1706 – Graz 1774)
Completed: 1745
Technique(s): wood carving
Material(s): wood
Polychromy
Completed: 1745 – 1747
Material(s): gold leaf, red bole
Comment
Kohlbach was the first to recognise that Straub was the most often mentioned sculptor for the Cathedral. He also created the lost “Geroldtsche Leuchter (= candelabra)”, model-figures for lost silver statuettes, four sconces, two candelabra, six ornaments for the high altar as well as a new finger of Genoese marble for the sculpture of St Joachim (1746 for 1 fl 42 kr).3 Furthermore, the carved rocaille-crowning of the prayer stools (1746) for 5fl and of the communion-cup cabinets in the vestry (1947) for 2 fl 30 kr.4
Images
Carved clock case in the middle of the organ’s parapet, Cathedral of Graz (photo by the Diocesan Museum Graz, 2014)
Clock case, detail, Cathedral of Graz (photo by the Diocesan Museum Graz, 2014)
Catalogue entry prepared by Christina Pichler and Dagmar Probst
Recommended citation: Christina Pichler and Dagmar Probst, Carved Clock Case in the Organ’s Parapet in the Cathedral of Graz, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 22/10/2025) URL
Sources and Bibliography
Dehio. Die Kunstdenkmäler Österreichs. Graz, Wien, Verlag Anton Schroll & Co, 1979
Rochus Kohlbach, Der Dom zu Graz. Die fünf Rechnungsbücher der Jesuiten, Graz, Grazer Domverlag, 1948
