Surround Your Fireplace in Style With a Classy Mantel Clock
A stately mantel clock occupying a place of honor above the living room fireplace evokes images of cozy evenings filled with warmth and conversation. More than just a timekeeping device, the right mantel clock becomes a sophisticated design accent that puts the finishing touch on your interior decor.
From European antiques to Art Deco icons, mantel clocks encompass a rich variety of styles and eras. As you evaluate options to complement your own decor, it helps to understand what makes certain mantel clocks so special. Knowing the hallmarks of quality craftsmanship allows you to choose a shelf clock that will draw admiring glances for decades to come.
Ornate French Empire Mantel Clocks Reflect Height ofLuxury
Among antique mantel clocks, French Empire pieces from the early 1800s exemplify the pinnacle of luxury and opulence. Clockmakers crafted these fireplace clocks as objets d'art using the finest materials and neoclassical motifs.
Bronze ormolu, a technique of applying finely ground gold to the surface of bronze, features prominently across French Empire mantel clocks. Along with porcelains, exotic marbles, and gilding, ormolu accents adorned clock frames and bases with mythical creatures, laurel leaves, and other Greco-Roman details.
The elegantly arched form of French Empire clocks mirrors the rhythm and symmetry found throughout ancient Greek architecture. Pride of place often went to a statuette of Apollo, Venus, or other classical figures striking the hour atop the clock.
Renowned clockmakers like Jean-Baptiste Baillon, Charles-Guillaume Diehl, and Joseph-Theodore Deck helped propel French mantel clocks to the forefront of both artistry and timekeeping precision. To this day, French Empire mantel clocks from their workshops and others around Paris fetch princely sums at auction.
American Tambour Clocks Boast Unique Silhouettes
Just as the French Empire clocks reflect France's cultural zeitgeist in the early 19th century, the American tambour clock embodies the young nation's emerging identity and self-sufficiency. Respected clockmakers like Simon Willard created iconic shelf clock designs distinct from their European counterparts.
The ogee or hooded arch framing the round clock face became a signature style of American tambour mantel clocks. Early predecessors used weight-driven movements, though spring-driven mechanisms later gained favor. Etched and painted glass tablets flanking the dial added decorative flair.
Chauncey Jerome expanded tambour clock production in the 1840s, utilizing assembly line techniques at his New Haven factory to bring shelf clocks to middle class households throughout America. During this antebellum era, a mahogany veneer tambour mantel clock came to signify a family's prosperity and refined tastes.
20th Century Mantel Clocks Undergo Modernist Makeover
At the turn of the century, mantel clocks shed their 19th century historicism and embraced sleek, forward-looking designs. The machine aesthetic and geometry of the Art Deco movement made its way to Time Square and mantel clocks around the world.
No longer covertly enclosed in cases, clock mechanisms became part of the appeal. Chrome, Bakelite, exotic veneers, and blocks of Lucite gave mantel clocks a polished, streamlined look. Abstract motifs and numbers replaced elaborate filigree and Roman numerals.
Mid-century modern designers like George Nelson and Charles Eames advanced mantel clock minimalism even further in the 1950s and 60s. Their pared down, linear mantel clocks complemented the clean lines and open floor plans of postwar homes.
Spectacular Materials and Craftsmanship Command Attention
Whether vintage or contemporary, the world's finest mantel clocks utilize extraordinary materials molded by gifted artisans into eye-catching forms.
Most antique mantel clocks boast frames of mahogany, walnut, and other fine hardwoods left unpainted to display their rich grain patterns. Ornately carved details showcase the woodcrafter's knifework skills.
Brass, silver, and bronze elements add warmth and sheen, especially when incorporated as feet, bezel rings, finials, pendulum bobs, and other accents. Metalworkers through the ages have brought stately clocks to life through precise engraving and casting work.
Porcelain also graces mantel clock surfaces as hand-painted dial plates and decorative figurines and plaques. Colorful floral motifs and portraiture vignettes reveal the steady hands of artists painting each delicate piece.
The domed or beveled glass encasing the clock face may also bear etched patterns, gilding, cut faceting, and staining to complement the overall design.
Inner Complexity Matches External Beauty
Beyond the visual appeal, a hallmark of any high-quality mantel clock is the sophisticated engineering inside powering its timekeeping functions. While modern quartz movements rely on electricity and integrated circuits, most collectible antique mantel clocks house intricate mechanical movements requiring manual winding.
Weighted pendulums swing back and forth, regulating the clock's rhythm like a heartbeat. A spring-driven clock stores energy wound tight through a turning key, then unwinds slowly over a week before needing rewinding. Suspended weights connected by pulleys gradually descend over time, exerting continuous downward force.
Gears of various sizes translate the pendulum oscillations into precise minutes and hours displayed on the dial. Some include additional calendar dials or lunar phase indicators. The mellow sounds of chimes ringing on each quarter hour add to the nostalgic appeal.
Winding and Adjustment Keep the ticks Ticking
Proper setup and timely winding are needed to keep your collectible mantel clock running strong for generations. Carefully level and secure the clock so the pendulum can swing unencumbered to maintain accurate rhythm.
Winding the clock at the same time each week or attaching weights to run the movement continuously both prevent the spring or gears from wearing unevenly over time. Take care not to overwind and damage the spring.
Slow, fast, and chiming adjustments via knobs or levers provide fine tuning when needed. A tilted pendulum bob changes the swing tempo. Moon phase dials and calendar wheels also occasionally require manual adjustment.
Display Your Mantel Clock as a Focal Point
A mantel clock deserves a prominent presentation to enhance its aesthetic impact. Imagine your clock as a jewel displayed on the fireplace mantel or shelf.
Allow enough space for the pendulum to swing freely without obstruction from mantel edges or objects. Leave some breathing room above the clock if it has a decorative finial at the peak of the arched hood.
Collectible clocks often look their best flanked by decorative objects. Candlesticks, vases, and small sculptures can frame the clock to create an artful vignette. Just take care to not overcrowd the arrangement or block sight lines.
Proper lighting also puts the best face forward for your heirloom clock. Install sconces or directional lighting to illuminate the clock face and accentuate the colors and relief of any ornate details.
Some clocks also feature beveled glass or mirrored surfaces meant to reflect candlelight or firelight to amplify their brilliance. Position the clock to make the most of these entrancing effects.
Match Old World Charm to Your Decor
When selecting a mantel clock, consider which style best complements your existing interior decor. Do you want to play up the traditional elegance with a European antique? Or does a sleek modern clock better suit your contemporary living room?
A French Empire clock pairs well with similarly ornate furnishings like tufted settees and neoclassical oil paintings. The rich colors and texture provide an opulent counterbalance.
The clean curves of midcentury modern mantel clocks align with retro-inspired decor. Their minimalist forms allow bolder artwork or furniture to take the lead in making a design statement.
Even a vintage inspired new production clock can capture old world allure. Look for quality materials and details like visible gear movements and real wood veneers.
Where to Acquire Your Unique Mantel Clock
Finding the perfect mantel clock takes a bit of persistence. Excellent options can be unearthed online, at antique shops, clock specialists, estate sales, and elsewhere.
eBay and Ruby Lane boast broad listings of antique clocks for direct purchase. These cover various styles and price points. Be sure to carefully assess condition based on pictures and descriptions.
Visiting local antique stores and flea markets allows hands-on inspection of clocks before purchase. The hunt itself conjures nostalgia and discovery.
Auction houses like Christie's offer mantel clocks among their vintage clock listings. You'll need to place bids and estimate final costs including buyer's premiums.
If you have a particular clock style in mind, specialty retailers like Antique Clocks Guy cater to mantel and shelf clocks. Their expertise helps match you with an authentic clock that resonates.
Factor Age and Condition Into Costs
When evaluating pricing, older and more ornate clocks understandably command higher prices. Finely detailed French Empire clocks or Willard shelf clocks fetch upwards of several thousand dollars.
Condition greatly affects value as well. Chips, broken pieces, water damage, and especially non-working movements decrease costs. Visible repairs also lower desirability for collectors seeking untouched examples.
Common early 20th century mantel clocks often start around $100, with particularly unique Deco designs reaching into the low thousands. Rare maker signed examples escalate further.
Even quality vintage style reproductions cost several hundred dollars. Going with an unknown mass manufactured clock saves on budget but surrenders charm.
Caring for Your Mantel Clock for Years to Come
Preserving your investment in an antique or vintage mantel clock requires proper care and maintenance. Follow these tips and it will keep time beautifully for you and future generations.
Sensitive Materials Require Special Cleaning
Use a soft cloth to gently remove accumulated dust and grime from wooden, metal, and glass elements. Avoid commercial sprays and polishes which can damage finishes or leave residue behind.
Instead, gently wipe brass details with a cloth dipped in lemon oil or tarnish remover. Use a cotton swab dipped in vinegar to clean debris from the clock face and movement components.
Leave Complex Repairs to Professionals
While owners can wind and make minor adjustments to a clock movement, more intricate repairs often demand a trained technician. Refurbishing damaged finishes also restoration expertise.
Contact a reputable dealer or local clock repair shop if your clock requires internal repairs, new bushings or pivots, or refinishing of wood or metal elements. A proper professional cleaning and lubrication every 7-10 years also promotes smoother running.
Give Your Mantel Clock a Break
To help preserve the spring and internal gears, give your wind-up clock a rest now and then. Stop winding for a week or two so the mainspring can relax. This periodic break extends the running life of the movement.
When not on display, cover the clock and store it safely away from direct sunlight, uncontrolled temperature and humidity, and potential knocks. Choose a cool, dry storage spot for optimal preservation during off months.
A stately mantel clock merits equal appreciation as artpiece and feats of crafstmanship. Celebrated clockmakers across Europe and America have created masterworks to complement hearth and home for over two centuries.
French Empire, American tambour, and Art Deco designs exemplify the diverse aesthetic possibilities. Superb materials from mahogany and bronze to beveled glass and porcelain highlight incredible handiwork.
Choose your mantel clock as thoughtfully as you would select a painting or sculpture to enhance your living space. Position and light it as art to lend warmth and wonder to every evening you spend gathered fireside.