Longcase Clock in Painted Pine, Central Europe, 1850

Details

Description

This antique longcase clock rises on a solid pine case painted in dark green, with two painted panels of floral … Read more This antique longcase clock rises on a solid pine case painted in dark green, with two painted panels of floral sprays framed in red and an arched polychrome dial. Originates from Central Europe, from the middle of the nineteenth century, where pine was joined with mortise-and-tenon work and decorated in distemper.The tall case clock was the most valuable object in a Central European farmhouse and the one that set the rhythm of the day. The hand-painted dial, with floral spandrels on a pale ground, is the regional answer to the engraved dials of urban production.The case is narrow and square in section, with an arched hood, a single-door trunk and a moulded plinth. The hinges are hand-forged iron, with straps finished in spear points. The interior keeps its original lining of striped green and ochre wallpaper scattered with small flowers, together with a mid shelf.The green of the case has darkened almost to black and lets the wood show at the edges and base. The floral sprays keep their red and pink, somewhat subdued. The paper lining survives complete, with light damp staining, and is an uncommon survival.A piece of considerable height that gives character to an entrance hall or the foot of a staircase. Its deep green and floral decoration hold their own in a restrained interior, and it reads equally well running as a working object or silent as folk art. See less