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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock · Cuckoo and quail wall clock

German Black Forest Cuckoo and Quail Clock

Partially verified

The source reports that this German Black Forest cuckoo and quail clock dates to circa 1880. Housed in a hand-carved oak case decorated with branches, berries, and carved leaves, it features a wooden dial fitted with carved bone Roman numerals. The source states that the clock sounds a quail call on each quarter hour, while on the hour a cuckoo bird emerges alongside the quail announcement and a gong strike produced via internal bellows and gong. It is powered by three pinecone weights on chains hanging below the case, suspended alongside a carved wooden pendulum bob.

Front view of carved oak Black Forest cuckoo and quail clock with weights and pendulum
Front view of carved oak Black Forest cuckoo and quail clock with weights and pendulum — Renaissance Antiques. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.renaissanceantiques.com
Category
Clock · Cuckoo and quail wall clock
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
RALF 36 P
Source-reported date
Circa 1880
Country
Germany

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Object Identity and Case Construction

The source describes this piece as a German Black Forest cuckoo and quail clock dating to circa 1880 (or the late 1800s). It is housed in a hand-carved oak case measuring 28 inches high, 18 inches wide, and 9 inches deep, ornamented with relief carvings of branches, oak leaves, and berries.

Visual observation of the exterior confirms an intricately carved oak leaf and berry surround forming a chalet-style frame. Suspended beneath the carved case are three pinecone-shaped cast weights hanging from chains, with a carved leaf pendulum bob visible behind them. Above the dial, double aperture doors are set into the case facade to house the automata birds.

Evidence for this section
  • “German Black Forrest Cuckoo and Quail Clock”
  • “This charming German cuckoo and quail clock dates to the late 1800s”
  • “The clock resides in a beautifully hand-carved oak case”
  • “Branches, oak leaves, and berries adorn the exterior”
  • “28″ High x 18″ Wide x 9″ Deep”
  • “Circa 1880”
  • “Intricately carved oak leaf and berry surround forming the chalet-style frame”
  • “Three pinecone-shaped cast weights suspended by chains beneath the carved case”
  • “Carved leaf pendulum bob visible behind the weight chains”
  • “Double aperture doors above the dial for the automata birds”

Dial and Automata Display

The clock features a wooden dial fitted with carved bone Roman numerals. As observed, light-colored hands are mounted at the center of the wooden chapter ring to indicate the time.

Dual aperture doors positioned above the dial accommodate the automata display. According to the seller's description, a quail sounds every quarter hour, while on the hour a cuckoo bird emerges from its door at the top of the clock to announce the hour.

Evidence for this section
  • “A wooden dial displays the time with carved bone Roman numerals”
  • “Light-colored hands set against a wooden chapter ring with applied Roman numerals”
  • “Double aperture doors above the dial for the automata birds”
  • “In addition, a quail will announce each quarter hour”
  • “Every hour, a cuckoo bird emerges from its door at the top of the clock to announce the time”

Reported Movement and Sound Generation

The striking mechanism is described by the source as operating via two small internal bellows that produce distinct tones for the cuckoo sound, alongside a simultaneous gong strike that sounds the number of hours. Three weight chains hang below the base to support the three pinecone-shaped weights.

The seller reports that the clock has undergone a complete restoration and carries a one-year warranty. However, no internal movement views, maker trademarks, caliber details, or inspection records are provided in the source documentation, leaving the specific maker and internal mechanical condition unverified.

Evidence for this section
  • “Two tiny bellows inside the clock create the sound, each producing a different tone, distinguishing the bird’s melody”
  • “Simultaneously, the clock strikes a gong, indicating the number of hours”
  • “Three pinecone-shaped cast weights suspended by chains beneath the carved case”
  • “This clock bears a complete restoration and a one-year warranty”

Open research questions

  • What maker's trademark or stamp is present on the movement plates (e.g., Johann Baptist Beha, Gordian Hettich Sohn, or Emilian Wehrle)?
  • Are the internal movement plates made of solid brass or wooden plates with brass bushings, typical of Black Forest construction of this era?
  • Were the quail and cuckoo bellows replaced during the reported restoration, or do they retain original leather and wood?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for German Black Forest Cuckoo and Quail Clock
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case materialOak“beautifully hand-carved oak case”
Dial numeralsCarved bone Roman numerals“carved bone Roman numerals”
Dimensions28″ High x 18″ Wide x 9″ Deep“28″ High x 18″ Wide x 9″ Deep”
SKURALF 36 P“SKU: RALF 36 P”
Striking complicationQuail, cuckoo, and gong strike“Cuckoo, Quail, and Gong Strike Every Hour”
Quarter-hour strikingQuail announcement every 15 minutes“features a delightful surprise every 15 minutes”
Sound generationTwo internal bellows producing dual tones alongside a gong strike“Two tiny bellows inside the clock create the sound, each producing a different tone, distinguishing the bird’s melody. Simultaneously, the clock strikes a gong, indicating the number of hours”
Warranty and restoration statusReported complete restoration with a one-year warranty“This clock bears a complete restoration and a one-year warranty”

Visible details

  • Three pinecone-shaped cast weights suspended by chains beneath the carved case
  • Carved leaf pendulum bob visible behind the weight chains
  • Double aperture doors above the dial for the automata birds
  • Light-colored hands set against a wooden chapter ring with applied Roman numerals
  • Intricately carved oak leaf and berry surround forming the chalet-style frame

Research qualifications

  • Internal movement maker and mechanism caliber are not specified
  • Back and internal movement views are not depicted
  • Restoration status and operational claims are source-reported

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

German Black Forrest Cuckoo and Quail Clock - Renaissance Antiques

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record d17d30d7d4

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.