The orgin of mantle clocks, sometimes called shelf clocks, is believed to be in France in the 1750′s and were quite popular, and rather affordable to own. These early mantle clocks were part timepiece and part decoration and were displayed on fireplace mantels because of their small size. The early mantle clocks were constructed of brass and wood and generally would run from 30 hours to eight days between windings, depending on the particular clock mechanism.
It wasn’t long before American ingenuity stepped in and Eli Terry began mass producing them in Connecticut. A fellow American, Simon Willard, began his production of mantle clocks in Massachusetts, and made them very popular with his design using a weight driven timepiece. His mantle clocks became known as the Simon Willard Shelf Clock and is highly collectible.
The European clocks were generally made of porcelain, wood, or ormolu, and were very ornately decorated. They were for the most part, key wound and had a swing pendulum. The American made mantle clocks used iron or brass with the cases made of oak or cherry. The manufacturers imagination was in full swing with some clock models being decorated in various ways and even engraved with very detailed painted scenes. Some even had calendars inter woven into the clock face.
Next, the Ansonia Clock Company began production of their version of mantle clocks that were made of porcelain and were ornately decorated with images of flowers. They also produced specially carved clocks with the base made of figurines and gorgeous sculptures. The Ansonia mantle clocks are also sought after by many collectors and other clock owners who love to display the clock in their home.
Another American clock manufacturer, Seth Thomas, produced clocks that were known for their sleek and smooth lines. His 19th century mantle clocks were made of very richly textured wood making them look more modern than their age would lead you to believe. Mantle clocks were known by several different names over the years, however, they have maintained their integrity and popularity for over two hundred years due to their dependability. These clocks have been masterfully constructed and designed and work well in many different situations, and are highly sought after by collectors and non-collectors alike. It’s for these reasons that antique mantle clocks hold their value and look great in any setting.
Wow! Great article. It looks like a lot of time was put into this article. Thanks. Very entertaining, specially when i love antique clocks.
Thanks for this post. I’ve always loved grandfather clocks (since my grandfather has one of them in his home), and the little mantle clocks are cute too (and more affordable).
Wow, it’s pretty rare to see someone put things into perspective the way you just did. I wish that other bloggers and people that post content to the web would take a page from your book! Do you have any other sites that I could visit or could you possibly make a recommendation as to where I might be able to find some more information? Either way, thanks for an excellent resource and I look forward to being a repeat reader!
Very fascinating history here. I enjoyed hearing about the differences in the clocks between Europe and America. My grandfather always had an old mantle clock–makes me wonder what time era it was from.
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I recently visited the Greenwich Observatory to see Harrison’s original antique clocks. Amazing things and a real shame he had so much trouble winning the prize! Great article – thank you.