The structures may have also featured carvings, engravings, or sculptures. Over time, the clock face began to feature painted scenes. Hundreds of companies set up across America, especially in Connecticut, to make clocks and clock parts.Ĭlocks were made of wood, reducing their price and making them affordable to lower-income families. In the early 1800s, Eli Terry revolutionized everything by developing ways to mass-produce clocks and clock parts. It was during this time that makers began developing new designs and styles. Only upper-class citizens could afford to buy them. Clocks were made of expensive materials, and as such were sold as a premium ornament. The Willard Brothers are credited as the first American clockmakers to make mantel clocks. It wasn’t until the 19 th Century that mantel clocks became popular and available in America, and they became more popular as the Indsturai Revolution took the fold. Designs mirrored French styles of architecture and furniture. One of the biggest selling points of mantel clocks was their size – they were much more compact than other timepieces of the time, including Grandfather clocks. These clocks were made with ormolu, otherwise known as ‘gilt bronze’, which gave them a beautiful golden shimmer. The earliest records of them date back to 18 th Century France. On 1stDibs, find a range of extraordinary antique, new and vintage clocks today.The name ‘mantel clock’ comes from where these small clocks originally sat – on top of the fireplace. Rococo-style mantel clocks of Meissen porcelain or porcelain originating from manufacturers in cities such as Limoges, France, during the 18th and 19th centuries, exude an air of imperial elegance on your shelves or side tables and can help give your desk a 19th-century upgrade. Ormolu clocks dating from the Louis XVI period, designed in the neoclassical style, are often profusely ornate, featuring architectural flourishes and rich naturalistic details. Minimalist contemporary clocks and books pair nicely on a shelf, but an eye-catching vintage mantel clock can add balance to your home library while drawing attention to your art and design books and other decorative objects. For conversation pieces of a similar breed, mid-century modern enthusiasts go for the curious Ball clock, the first of more than 150 clock models conceived in the studio of legendary architect and designer George Nelson. An interactive cuckoo clock, large or small, is guaranteed to bring outsize personality to your living room or dining room. A large antique hand-carved walnut wall clock is best suited to a big room and a flat background given what will likely be outwardly sculptural features, while Georgian grandfather clocks, or longcase clocks, will help welcome rainswept guests into your entryway or foyer. In short, there are many kinds of clocks depending on your needs.Ī variety of wall clocks can be found on 1stDibs. But the art of clock-making goes way back, transcending continents and encompassing an entire range of design styles and technologies. When most people think of antique clocks, they imagine an Art Deco Bakelite tabletop or wall clock, named for the revolutionary synthetic plastic, Bakelite, of which they’re made, or a stately antique grandfather clock. Given the versatility of these treasured fixtures - they’ve long been made in a range of shapes, sizes and styles - a clock can prove integral to your own particular interior decor.Īntique and vintage clocks can whisk us back to the 18th and 19th centuries. This is part of the reason clocks make such superb collectibles. A sophisticated clock design, whether it’s a wall clock, desk clock, mantel clock or other variation, is a decorative object to be admired in your home as much as it is a necessary functional element.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |