Relevant categories: Clocks
(Above photo - Antique Clock Sets from Canonbury Antiques )
To decorate your home, you should think of going beyond paintings and other conventional pieces of art. We suggest antique clock sets as the best way to bring life to your outdated home décor. Also known as a clock garniture, a clock set is usually composed of matching but hardly identical pieces of art. For that reason, all the items in a clock set are supposed to be displayed at the same time.
(Above photo - Antique Boulle clock ) So, what does a clock set look like? The main piece of the set is a mantel clock followed by two non-identical side ornaments. The garniture is usually made of brass, bronze, spelter, or gilt bronze. In most cases, the side ornaments are in the form of candelabra, tazze, vases, statuary, or urns (covered or uncovered). Regardless of the form and shape they take, the side ornaments aren’t meant for reasonable practices. Instead, they are meant to be decorative. Antique clock sets are meant to be placed on the mantelpiece above a fireplace. They can also be placed on tabletops, niches, or ledges around any of the walls in a room. Mostly, they would sit over fireplace doors. Apart from metal, other materials used to make the garniture include ormolu. The stands could be made of porcelain or gilded wood. The clock sets have been around since they were first produced in the 17th century. In the 19th century, they were famous for decorating homes in Europe as well as Asia.
(Above photo - Art Deco antique clock set ) The pieces of a clock set were usually made together by the same artist. However, some decorators would assemble items with an element of similarity to form a complete set. To avoid taking the shimmer from the clock, the flanking pieces were smaller. They stood at a lower height to ensure the clock remained the main piece of the set. That’s because, minus the clock, it will just be another garniture.
Not all clock set would have vases and candelabras as the supporting pieces. Some featured elaborate epergnes, candlesticks, and figurines. Even so, the main feature to concentrate on wouldn’t be the supporting pieces. The looks of the clock itself were of great importance. The kind of decorations featured on the clock sets really mattered. For example, while some clocks featured Arabic numerals, others had Roman numbers on the face.
(Above photo - Antique French Enamel clock set ) When buying an antique clock set, it’s essential to check that you have an original piece. The oldest antique clock sets are likely to have undergone some form of restoration. In that case, you should find out the kind of work the restorer did to keep the clock working. After all, you don’t want to end up with a mere decoration that doesn’t show the time, do you?
If you are looking for an antique clock set to buy, don’t hesitate to visit our shop. We have an extensive collection of clock garnitures, so you can be sure to get precisely what you are looking for. Good luck with your shopping!
Some videos of our antique clock sets from our YouTube channel:
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