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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock type · Domestic

Art Deco Clocks

Partially verified

Clocks reflecting the geometric, streamlined, and luxurious style of the Art Deco period.

Movement & mechanism

  • Modernist French or Swiss movements
  • Cases in marble, chrome, glass, and exotic woods
  • Bold geometric shapes and high-contrast materials

Identification

  • Geometric forms (circles, squares, steps)
  • High-contrast materials (black onyx and silver)
  • Bold, stylized numerals

Terminology

  • Streamline Moderne
  • Geometric
  • Machine Age

Known variations

  • Desk, mantel, and 'mystery' variants

Collecting notes

Condition and originality are paramount. For technical clocks like regulators or atmospheric clocks, the completeness of the original mechanism is more important than case condition. For decorative clocks (Boulle, Empire), the quality of the case craft is central.

Diagram

escape wheelpallets and leveroscillator
Schematic: escapement arrangement. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

Sources & references

  1. Britten, F. J., Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers
  2. Loomes, B., The Early Clockmakers of Great Britain
  3. Roberts, D., British Skeleton Clocks
  4. Museum catalogue records

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.