Among the many material forms of Art Deco — from buildings to furniture to cars — clocks somehow seem to make the best use of the machine-age motifs that make the style so wonderful. Feverish geometric forms, mind-bending symmetry, high-contrast colours, modern and ancient materials combined with ticking mechanics and streamlined electricity in order to measure something more imaginary: time. Here are 18 clocks of that era that we just adore.
Corner Clock
You can’t see it in the black and white photo, but the gorgeous symmetrical face is surrounded by red onyx. Made by E Gubelin of Lucerne. Circa 1935.
Bar Clock, Circa 1930
The lounge bar in Nell Gwynn House, an apartment block in the King’s Road, Chelsea.
Photo: General Photographic Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Clock by Jean Goulden
Jean Goulden (1878-1946), French physician and artist, designed and made this clock in 1929. It’s made of silvered bronze, enamel and marble. Now located at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia.
Photo: Universal Pops
French Mantle Clock
Photo: Glassholic
Rockefeller Center, Manhattan
International Building, 1931-1940. “The Story of Mankind” by Lee Lawrie, which depicts the clock as the sun.
Photo: Scott Gilchrist
Chicago Board of Trade
Photo: alykat
Robert N.C. Nix Federal Building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Architect: Harry Sternfeld. Built in 1937. Limestone with granite base.
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress
The Hague School
Nickel plated brass and niello mantel clock, The Netherlands, 1920s.
Photo: Heritage Auctions
Marian Marsh’s Clock
A white marble Whitehall-Hammond synchronous-movement clock from the early ’30s. Plaque affixed to the base reads, “To Marian Marsh Honorary Guest Star Hollywood”.
Photo: Heritage Auctions
Smith’s Glass Clock
Made In England. Circa 1920.
Photo: Heritage Auctions
Two Table Clocks
A maroon bakelite square clock on ribbed brass base and a round crystal clock on an oval base. Both designed by Gilbert Rohde (American furniture designer, 1894-1944), circa 1930.
Photo: Heritage Auctions
Mantle Clock
From the Malcolm S. Forbes collection. An Art Deco shagreen-cased clock presented to Lt. Col. John Christopher Smuts in 1946.
Photo: Heritage Auctions
French Pendulum Clock
Glass-encased mantle clock with octagonal face and copper numerals. Maker unknown, France, circa 1930.
Photo: Heritage Auctions
Illuminated Glass Clock
Side-lit clear glass clock face with frosted nude figures. Maker unknown, American, circa 1935.
Photo: Heritage Auctions
Amber Clock
A German amber and silvered metal table clock. Attributed to Naujoks, Mann and Geduk, Koenigsberg, Germany, circa 1940.
Photo: Heritage Auctions
Boucheron Art Deco Clock
Art Deco was known for using a variety of exotic materials, and this clock is a prime example of that. Its bill of materials include agate, lapis lazuli, gold and cabochon coral. No wonder it sold for $US62,500.
Photo: Christie’s
Multi-Gem And Diamond “Gazelle” Desk Clock, By Ostertag
This one is even more exotic, making use of rock crystal, lapis, diamonds, rubies and emeralds. It was completed in June 1929 and recently sold for $US278,500.
Photo: Christie’s
The Temple Gate Clock
OK, one more crazy-expensive auction piece: the Temple Gate clock, which sold for more than $US1.5 million. It’s styled to look like an Egyptian temple, made out of gold, polished coral, mother-of-pearl, lapis lazuli and multiple gemstones. Circa 1927.
Photo: Christie’s
Have your own favourite art deco clock? Did I miss anything important or beautiful? Tell us in the comments below!