Mid 20th Century Chinese Grandfather Clock

Details

Description

This is a mid-20th-century Chinoiserie black lacquer grandfather clock, a decorative style frequently imported by makers such as Wai Hing … Read more This is a mid-20th-century Chinoiserie black lacquer grandfather clock, a decorative style frequently imported by makers such as Wai Hing Clocks Co. and other Asian-export clockmakers featuring European clock movements.

Key Characteristics
Chinoiserie Lacquer & Relief Work: Features a hand-painted black lacquer finish accented with gilded floral scrolls and multi-dimensional relief figures (traditionally carved soapstone, mother-of-pearl, or composite resin) depicting traditional figures in a landscape.

Dial Details: An arched brass dial framed with ornate decorative spandrels. The arch features the classic Latin phrase "Tempus Fugit" ("Time Flies") above Roman numeral hour markers.

Case Design: Designed with a broken-arch / swan-neck pediment top crowned with a central turned finial, flanked by decorative side columns around the upper clock hood and lower pendulum glass door.

Movement: These mid-century decorative longcase clocks were typically outfitted with imported German mechanical movements (such as Franz Hermle or Urgos) driving three chime weights and a pendulum. See less