Tall Clock (Cleveland Museum of Art 1992.70)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1880
In 1879, Louis Comfort Tiffany joined several other artisans to create an interior decoration firm called Associated Artists. The firm was very influential in advocating a rejection of historical styles in favor of the new fashion from more eclectic sources of inspiration, including the Islamic world and Japan. One of Tiffany's partners, Lockwood De Forest, traveled extensively in India to find carved wood and other decorative accessories that could be used in their designs. This clock's design was one result of this collaboration. The heavily carved panels on the clock were likely purchased in India during this time and assembled with a clock mechanism from Tiffany's father's shop, Tiffany and Co., whose name appears on the clock face. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1992.70: Tall Clock, c. 1880. Tiffany & Co. (America, New York, est. 1837). Mahogany, teak with dial faces of gilded and patinated metal, glass; overall: 247.3 x 66 x 36.5 cm (97 3/8 x 26 x 14 3/8 in.). Inscribed: lower dial face inscribed: Tiffany & Co., Makers.. Details are those of this museum object; how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 4
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Associated Artists assembled this clock using imported carved wood panels from India. For an American owner, the motifs suggested decorative styles from faraway places.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- mahogany, teak with dial faces of gilded and patinated metal, glass
- Dimensions
- Overall: 247.3 x 66 x 36.5 cm (97 3/8 x 26 x 14 3/8 in.)
- Measurements
- Overall: 247.3 x 66 x 36.5 cm (97 3/8 x 26 x 14 3/8 in.)
- Material and technique
- mahogany, teak with dial faces of gilded and patinated metal, glass
Design
- Inscription
- lower dial face inscribed: Tiffany & Co., Makers.
Identification
- Date recorded
- c. 1880
- Culture period
- America, New York
- Maker recorded
- Tiffany & Co. (America, New York, est. 1837)
- Museum attribution
- Tiffany & Co. (America, New York, est. 1837)
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1992.70
- Published references
- Turner, Evan H. "The Year in Review for 1992." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 80, no. 2 (1993): 38-79. Reproduced: p. 61; Mentioned: p. 67 · Hawley, Henry. "An Indo-American Tall Clock." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 80, no. 4 (1993): 170-73. Reproduced: p. 171; Mentioned: p. 170-73
- Museum classification
- Furniture and woodwork
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: this record describes a single museum object; confirm the wider type, maker attribution and specifications against horological references.