Design
This small mantel clock from the 1960s is a lovely example of the clean yet playful design of the postwar era.
Its rectangular wooden case, with its warm grain, stands on four short gold-tone feet. The gently curved, almost square dial with rounded corners is particularly striking. A cream-colored chapter ring surrounds the wooden center, while a gold-tone metal bezel frames the dial.
The slender openwork hands and elegantly shaped numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 give the clock a distinctive character. At just four centimeters deep, it is almost like a miniature piece of furniture.
Technology
Inside is a mechanical movement with a balance wheel. The balance staff runs in two ruby jewel bearings, which reduce friction and wear at these delicate bearing points and reflect the careful construction of the movement.
The manufacturer has not been conclusively identified. The marking “Made in Germany” indicates German manufacture, but on its own does not establish whether the clock was made in West or East Germany.
Story
This clock has found a new home in Japan's Ibaraki Prefecture. The AI-generated interior scene evokes its new home with a painting of Mount Tsukuba, a ceramic vase, and a model of a Japanese space rocket.
Manufacturer
Unknown manufacturer
It is no longer possible to identify the maker of every clock with certainty. Company marks, inscriptions and other clues may have been lost over the decades. Cases and movements were also frequently made by different businesses.
Where clear evidence is lacking, we deliberately refrain from attributing a clock to a particular manufacturer. The clock itself nevertheless remains a witness to its time. Its design, technology and craftsmanship tell part of its history even when its maker is unknown.
