Choosing an Antique Clock for the Dining Room
A home without a clock is an empty home, there are many antique and fine art items that can add something to a room but no other adds life like an antique clock which is not only an object of beauty but a working, living piece. How many people look back with nostalgia and recall the slow tick of a longcase clock in the hallway of their parents or grandparents home with that memory of how it soothed and relaxed, filled the quiet empty space, indeed was thought of as part of the family. Or a mantel clock sitting on a fireplace or atop a favourite piece of furniture for all to tell the time by as the family rushed past. It's often only when a clock is gone that appreciation for its presence is realised.
A question most frequently asked is where to place one in today.s home, a house that.s every space seems to be filled with large screen televisions, stereos, computers and the like? The obvious answer is the dining room, a room which by its definition is used to entertain, to spend family time in or even to just sit quietly and contemplate. A room where the ticking heartbeat of a clock can add to the ambience, the fun or the relaxation.
But what type of clock should one look to be placing in this room? If it's a noisy family room where children are running about all day how about an English Victorian wall clock of a type often categorised as a school or railway clock which can be hanged out of harms way but still be part of the furnishings? Many of these have large twelve inch diameter dials with clear numerals and bright blued steel hands and therefore as well as being an item of furniture can be used to show young children the ways of telling the time at differing parts of the day. This style of wall clock tends to be a timepiece only with no strike on the hours and with robust fusee movements that should give years of uninterrupted service. It is best to buy an English example of the mid to late Victorian period although an affordable American or German piece can offer a cheaper option and, although not necessarily of the quality, will generally have hour striking movements. Be wary of the many 'fake' English wall clocks on the market at present which to the untrained eye can look quite authentic.
Another option is the 'Vienna' style wall regulator of the late Victorian period which tends to be a little fancier and bigger making one perfect for filling an alcove space or larger wall. With these clocks the weights and pendulum are visible through the glazed front door allowing visibility of the pendulum bob as it swings to and fro in time with the ticking of the movement. One can also watch the week.s progress as the brass weights journey further to the bottom of the case as the days pass.
Maybe the house calls out for a larger, more sedate longcase (or 'grandfather') clock but there isn.t the space in a hallway or living room. If the dining room is more .formal. what better way to retain its feel whilst also adding a little life? A good oak or mahogany longcase, with either a Georgian engraved brass dial or a beautifully painted dial of a slightly later date, would fit the bill perfectly. The movement ticking away gracefully but loud enough to echo throughout the rest of the house, announcing its presence every hour when striking on its large cast bell. A good example will have pleasing case proportions of good colour and patination, a dial in acceptable condition and a movement that runs for eight days. A less expensive choice of longcase may have a duration of thirty hours and be wound daily. Although there are less 'fine' examples of this thirty hour style there are still many pretty provincially made pieces available which are quite acceptable. One feature of many 19th century thirty hour longcase clocks is their smaller size making them suitable for more compact dining rooms or those with lower ceiling height. Be wary of longcase clocks that are .marriages., where the movement and dial didn't start life with the case. These can be very difficult to detect although a reputable, knowledgeable antique clock dealer will guarantee the originality of any piece they sell and will point out their reasons for believing so.
If the dining room has a mantle piece or sideboard then why not consider a clock which will stand proudly on this space. There are many types to be had from the reasonably priced French examples of the late Victorian period to the rarer, more expensive clocks made in the 18th and 19th centuries by British craftsmen and generally housed in wooden cases of mahogany, or walnut if somewhat earlier. These clocks will generally have double fusee striking movements with anchor escapements making them pieces of high quality and well built. Whilst most strike on a bell some more desirable types will also chime the hours or quarter hours on a nest of bells. The cases of examples from the late 18th century will often have a pleasing 'plainness' about them whilst by the Regency period brass stringing and inlay was being applied to the case. Then as the Victorian period takes hold carved mouldings appear decorating the front, top and edges of the case with further embellishments making some appear quite heavy and over stated. By the late 19th century a number of Continental manufacturers, such as Winterhalder & Hofmeier of Germany, were making clocks of a high standard and these can be quite affordable when compared to earlier British examples. As with longcase clocks be wary of pieces that have been 'messed about', especially backplates of movements that may have unused holes in them or dials that don.t seem to fit the case front.
The French clocks of the Victorian period generally house standard eight day movements with either bell or gong striking; as a rule of thumb the latter is of later manufacture dating from the mid 1800's. These French mantel clocks tend to be fairly ornate often set with porcelain panels in gilt metal cases. The better quality of these will be of ormolu, where the gold is plated onto brass, whereas the later, more mass produced examples, are on spelter, a soft metal which was cheaper to produce and easier to work with. This latter metal has a deader, softer feel to it and is often recognised by both the surface wearing through and signs of cracks or breaks in the structure. There are other examples of even more ornate French made clocks that would suit a dining room that either needs a lift or already houses more 'over-the-top' furnishing. As the 19th century progressed so the French started to house their movements in copies of English cases and so you may find a lovely brass inlaid mantle clock with a solid French movement having the look of an earlier English example but at considerably less cost. They also designed their own style of wooden cases of which the portico type is one of the most common, these are of varying quality with the finest made in mahogany with very finely chased ormolu mounts and beautiful plain white porcelain dials.
If a mantle piece is fairly narrow why not consider a smaller French carriage clock. Generally standing about six inches high with a carrying handle surmounting a brass and glass case these were made in their thousands in the mid to late Victorian period and house eight day movements often striking the hours and half hours on either a bell or gong. As with any clock it is worth setting a budget and then buying the best example of the type. Carriage clocks can be difficult to assess as to the untrained eye one can look very much like another and also be aware that they are still being made today. Aim to buy an example that is signed or stamped by one of the top French Victorian makers such as Henri Jacot, Drocourt, Leroy or Margaine; be sure that the platform escapement on the top of the movement, the part that .ticks., is original as this is the piece of mechanism that usually goes wrong within a carriage clock movement and more often than not an inexperienced repairer will have it replaced by a modern platform rather than restore the original. A reliable clock dealer will guarantee the original is still part of the movement. Further it is important to look closely at the porcelain dial and make sure there are no major cracks running through it.
Buying an antique clock is no different to buying any other antique object. For piece of mind visit an established and reputable dealer who will talk you through the clocks available and answer any questions or worries you may have with honesty and thoroughness. Be sure that the movement has been fully overhauled and carries a guarantee and that restoration has been undertaken on the dial and case in a sympathetic manner. Only look to purchase a clock that you really fall for, remember you have to live with it for a considerable amount of time and it.s important to be able to look at your clock with real fondness and not regret. Having found the one that takes your fancy step back and watch it for awhile, listen to it ticking and make sure it runs through all its functions. The dealer should be able to give you details of all the restoration that.s been undertaken and guarantee its originality. Be sure to ask about the clock.s past and any research that.s been undertaken. We are lucky in this country in that most clockmakers signed their pieces either on the dial or movement and so a little research will bring to light the maker.s working dates and history, something that adds so much more pleasure to its ownership. Again a reputable dealer will have undertaken this work beforehand and should have it there to digest.
Having bought the clock and decided where you are going to position it do not panic about the practicalities of getting it from the showroom to a place in the house where it.s ticking happily away. For larger clocks or those that need setting up a competent dealer will arrange the delivery and set up of your new purchase and should make sure it's settled into it.s new home.
In summary if you've not got a clock ticking away in your dining room or house then go out and find one, whether it costs a few pounds or many thousands of pounds the difference it'll make to your home is well worth it!
The author Leigh Extence is a dealer and consultant in Fine Antique Clocks with a showroom in the Grove, High Street, Honiton where a selection of clocks is always available for viewing. Further details of these and other horological items are shown on his website, www.extence.co.uk
