A guide to Art Deco clocks

The name Art Deco came from the 1925 art exposition, which was held at the Le Musée des Arts Decoratifs, to promote a display of Art Nouveau. The classification within Art Nouveau of Art Deco began in 1966, when a retrospective was completed of the 1925 art exposition. This article will provide a guide to Art Deco clocks.

Table clocks

According to Patricia Bayer, Art Deco is classified by "an architecture of ornament, geometry, energy, retrospection, optimism, colour, texture, light and at times, even symbolism." Elements that identify Art Deco Elements that help to identify Art Deco are the use of motifs, such as nationalism, polychrome, metal-work, mythology, botany, iconography, geometry, sculpture, bass relief and machinery. These elements can help you to identify clocks, made in the Art Deco clocks. This loose classification includes clocks that sit on mantels and tables and can include alarm clocks as well. Art Deco table clocks can also include sculpture, geometry and polychrome. Clocks which combine mythology and culture Examples are clocks held by mythical creatures, which combines mythology and sculpture clocks with square faces that are painted in a wide range of colours, resembling a painting using the face as its canvas or geometric cases that resemble pillars of buildings.

Wearable clocks

Classification of Wearable clocks This classification includes the lapel clock, deco watch, as well as the pocket or purse clock. As these clocks are of a smaller scale, they do not allow quite the freedom of expression of the larger, table clocks. Despite this, even these smaller versions include many, if not all, of the Art Deco elements. A combination of metal and enamel These are evident in the cases, which are often a combination of metal and enamel with colourful faces or mini clocks characterised by geometric designs. Even the chords or leather bans include Art Deco beads on their ends.

Grandfather clocks

The scale of grandfather clocks With grandfather clocks, the elements of Art Deco are allowed free range. Thanks to their scale, they can resemble miniature buildings with strict geometric lines or tall sculptures that combine practicality with the whims of art.
Grandfather clocks as a full expression of of Art Deco An example of the full expression of Art Deco is the Grandfather clock, which looks like a cat-tail with a clock instead of a flower. Other clocks seem to celebrate the machine age with their cases, made from chrome with lines that resemble car bodies.