German Black Forest Cuckoo and Quail Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Circa 1880
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.
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 and quail wall clock
- Dimensions
- 28″ High x 18″ Wide x 9″ Deep
- Case material
- Oak
- Dial numerals
- Carved bone Roman numerals
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Striking complication
- Quail, cuckoo, and gong strike
Design
- Visible features
- • 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Identification
- SKU
- RALF 36 P
- 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: Internal movement maker and mechanism caliber are not specified
- Research required: Back and internal movement views are not depicted
- Research required: Restoration status and operational claims are source-reported