19th-Century Black Forest Spring-Driven Cuckoo Wall Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1870–1890
This is a 19th-century Black Forest cuckoo wall clock, dating between circa 1870 and 1890. Housed in a hand-carved wood case featuring a traditional Chalet style, it is distinguished by a spring-driven mechanical movement rather than the more common weight-driven system, thereby eliminating the need for hanging chains and weights.
The clock is wound by key and features a wooden dial fitted with Roman numeral cartouches, believed to be made of bone or stained material. It includes an original painted wooden cuckoo bird housed behind a double-door aperture, which operates on the hour and half-hour. The clock is accompanied by its original wooden-leaf pendulum and a winding key. The mechanism is reported by the seller to be in functional, ticking condition, and the case exhibits a deep, original patina with high-relief wood carvings throughout the architectural frame and bottom apron.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Cuckoo wall clock
- Period
- 19th Century (Circa 1870–1890)
- Automata
- Painted wooden cuckoo bird
- Materials
- Carved wood and bone or stained material for numerals
- Dimensions
- 40cm x 33cm x 19cm
- Functionality
- Fully functional
- Movement Type
- Spring-driven
- Place recorded
- Germany
Design
- Case and Dial
- The clock is constructed within a solid wood case, styled in a traditional deep-relief Chalet design. The exterior features ornate wood carvings that provide a high-relief texture across the frame and the bottom apron, which mirrors the architectural themes found in the upper portion of the case. The dial is composed of wood and is decorated with Roman numeral cartouches. These markers are noted as being fashioned from either bone or a stained material. The time is indicated by a set of original, intricately carved hands. A central, double-door aperture is positioned at the top of the case to allow for the movement of the cuckoo bird.
- Visible features
- • Case features high-relief architectural wood carvings • Dial has Roman numeral cartouches • Small door aperture located at the top center of the case • Clock is spring-driven with a key-wind mechanism
- Movement and Mechanism
- By employing springs for both the timekeeping and the cuckoo train, the design removes the requirement for exterior hanging chains and cast iron weights. The movement is wound by a key, provided with the object. The seller reports that the mechanism is currently in working order, capable of ticking and striking. The cuckoo bird is triggered on both the hour and half-hour intervals, utilizing dual-tone bellow pipes to produce the characteristic sound.
- Condition and Maintenance
- The case retains its original finish, which is described as a rich, deep patina. The carved elements remain well-defined, and the overall structural integrity of the woodwork is preserved. Maintenance requirements for the clock during transit involve securing the bellows and the internal mechanical components. The pendulum is designed to be removed and packed separately to prevent damage to the clock during movement or shipping.
Identification
- Reference
- JN154
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
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: The exact composition of the numeral cartouches (bone or stained material) remains unverified
- Research required: Attribution to a specific maker is not provided in the source