Art Deco Clocks
Clock design was heavily influenced in the 1920s and ’30s by Art Deco and clock cases from the period often echo geometric architecture.
In Europe, the French and Swiss were the leading producers of Art Deco clocks with the French excelling at fashioning clocks for the mantlepiece; produced in marble, onyx, brass, glass, and chrome. Some French clocks were paired with bronze figurines including, Diana the Huntress, complete with ivory bow and green onyx shield. Animals figures were popular, and include fantail doves, lovebirds, and gazelles.
French Art Deco clock designers included Edgar Brandt, whose hand-wrought, forged iron clocks sit on marble bases. Cartier made all sorts of clocks, including square travel clocks with gold hands and black enameled handles. Compagnie Industrielle de Macanique Horelogere, sold clocks under its JAZ brand, and introduced a line of Art Deco clocks in 1934.
Art Deco Clocks are usually geometric with round faces in horizontal cases, colorful (think blues, greens, and gold), and often incorporate mirrors and figures in their designs.
The ever popular art deco style is an architectural and decorative-arts style, popular from 1910 to 1940.
Art deco is characterised by highly stylised natural and geometric forms and ornaments, which are usually very symmetrical. Art Deco themes were often classical motifs reduced to geometric stylisations.
Art Deco glass uses geometric patterns, bold colours, exuberant, sometimes stylised, female figures, and animal motifs. Major designers of Art Deco glass were Rene Lalique, Maurice Marinot, Daum Freres, Marius Sabino, Etling, Schneider, Gabriel Argy-Rousseau, and Francois Decorchemont.