Pulling, then letting go of a red cord brings this Simple Mechanical Escapement to life.
At the other end of the cord hangs a weight. The weight powers a star shaped wheel whose spinning spokes strike a hanging, metal "Y" shaped pendulum with unstructured irregularity.
This little sculpture illustrates an ancient clockwork mechanism, a crown wheel escapement. But here the mechanical elements are held so loosely that an erratic dance takes place, instead a measured beat.
"... a spidery grace, delicate gears and wheels that clank and chime as they move through their herky-jerky paces." Judy Arginteanu, The St. Paul Pioneer Press.