Antique Wall Clocks
Posted on Saturday, August 7, 2010
Anything that is antique is treasured, as it is handed down over generations as a masterpiece that is worth preserving either due to its monetary value or because it is a precious family heirloom that is passed on from one generation to the other. The same goes for antique wall clocks that have a certain charm that make them special and a work of art that can adorn your walls anytime. Whatever be the décor of your home, antique wall clocks will add a touch of glamour to the room besides it would be admired for its vintage quality.
These timepieces have an intriguing history that makes them so rare and a highly prized possession. Their uniqueness is derived from the fact that each one of these wall clocks had been handmade by some of the finest artisans and watchmakers who put in their creativity into every individual timepiece they structured. Antique wall clocks include the pendulum or regulator clocks, grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks, banjo clocks and calendar clocks. What was also special was that these wall clocks were mostly made in wood making them more durable and longer lasting.
The first wall clocks were produced in the 17th century in England and France though timekeeping dates back to the thirteenth century where huge wrought iron clocks were designed and placed in the church. These did not have hands but told the hour by way of chimes that were present in the church and were therefore created especially for the church. The ringing bells depicted the hour of the day and that is how everyone could tell the time.
Later in the 17th century, the pendulum clock was developed with the first being created by a Dutch mathematician Christian Huygens, but the real production began in England and other parts of Europe. The first pendulum or regulator clocks had a huge metal arc that worked as a pendulum that was manipulated by the movement of weights, but later these arcs were reduced in size and the suspension rod also became smaller giving a smooth movement and a more precise time. However, these clocks did not take off very well in England and instead gained popularity in Vienna where they began to be produced. These regulator clocks made a huge gong sound that could be heard loud and clear so that people would know what hour of the day it was.
Grandfather clocks or long case clocks are the most favored antique clocks and as they are standalone clocks, they cover a great part of the wall that they occupy. The clocks need no other accompaniment, as they alone are a piece of intricate furniture. These make some exceptional showpieces because of their extreme workmanship that are also a reason for admiration and praise. The magnum grandfather clocks had an eight days and thirty hours movement. Grandfather clocks are the most sought after by antique collectors and homemakers.
The cuckoo clocks had some of the most charming designs carved on wood with a figurine popping out every hour and a half at the sound of a cuckoo call. The first cuckoo clock was produced in 1730 by Franz Anton Ketterer in the Black Forest region of Germany, which is well known for its production of the finest cuckoo clocks. The early cuckoo clocks used the pendulum movement that was initiated by a weight-driven motion with the weights hanging out below but beautifully decorated to hide its function. While some cuckoo clocks needed to be wound every day, others had an eight days movement cycle.
Banjo clock as its name suggests was shaped like the instrument itself and was a creation of the Willard brothers Aaron and Simon. The base of the banjo clock usually in a square shape had a beautiful ornamental design while the crown generally carried a brass sculpture most of which were that of an eagle. These clocks gained great popularity, which gave rise to other designs such as the girandole and the lyre. However, after sixty years of huge demand, the banjo clocks began to grow less prominent, but today they are a much-prized possession.
John Hawes patented calendar clocks in 1853. Calendar clocks generally came with a separate dial face that displayed the month, dates and the days of the week. Some years later the Ithaca Calendar Clock Company invented a mechanism that could tell the leap years. We today know this mechanism as the perpetual calendar. Some of these clocks are highly sought after and demand a handsome price for it too.
You need not despair if you have not inherited an antique wall clock because you can find a lot of collectors’ items in the market, which include some historical wall clocks. Wall clocks have the widest range of vintage clocks with a grand selection of designs, shapes, sizes and makes and if you are a collector, you are sure to know how priceless some of these clocks are. They can become an important part of your home décor or be preserved as a rare antique that can be handed down to your children with pride.
Whether it is your living room or you’re your study or even the dining room that you wish to decorate with one of these interesting antique wall clocks, you can be sure that they will generate appreciation and praise from your friends. The aesthetic beauty of the unmatched craftsmanship in combination with traditional clock mechanism can make even your latest hi-tech gadgets look small and insignificant when compared to these historical clocks. So if you are looking to add elegance and class to your home, consider adorning one of your empty walls with an antique wall clock and see how it reflects an aura of sophistication and livens up the room.
