Although mass production of alarm clocks began in the 1860s, for the most part clocks remained very expensive until the early twentieth century. This was because the actual clockworks, the mechanical bits that operate the clock, were hand assembled. Therefore, up until the early twentieth century clocks were primarily for those that could afford them, the wealthy and the middle classes. The rise of industrial production and mass production in the 1910s and 1920s changed this forever.
It was about this time that the first efficient factories allowing for the mass production of clocks really took off. Aiming for inexpensive materials that were easily formed to represent almost any style, the early mass producers of clocks opted to use ceramics, or faence. Faence is a type of pottery associated with Faenza, Italy, that was used as something akin to plastic in the early twentieth century. Inexpensive, easy to shape or paint into any design, the decision to use this material for the casing of clocks was a great success between 1920 and 1940.
Although popular in Europe, especially in France and Belgium, the trend took off everywhere. This was the last big push in new, innovative – and popular – mantle clocks. Although the most famous of these ceramic mantle clocks were those that took on the Art Deco style popular at the time, in reality these clocks came in every conceivable style. Many were designed to look like more expensive middle class and upper class clocks, while others were given themes such as ancient Greek temples, biblical scenes and so on. These mantle clocks were not only designed to be functional, but were designed to be key elements of a room’s decoration. Often brightly colored and quite large, these clocks were both distinctive and considered prized possessions by many of their owners.
Beside modern replicas and reproductions of antique mantle clocks, most modern mantle clocks derive their inspiration from this craze for clocks between the two world wars. In fact, although plastic is less expensive, ceramics remain quite inexpensive today, so it is entirely possible to get fully historically accurate reproductions of these ceramic clocks today at a reasonable price. This is especially popular for those interested in the Art Deco style. Most of the originals of these mantle clocks were made in Belgium, France, and the Czech Republic and these areas still have businesses that produce these clocks today. However, after the end of World War II and the availability of inexpensive wrist watches and wall clocks these large mantle clocks fell out of style.
Nevertheless, someone looking around for a unique mantle clock to give their sitting room a unique appearance and style can still find modern reproductions of these ceramic clocks at very reasonable prices. The originals, being mass produced and fairly cheap, did not last very long, so the few that survived the war and remain in good shape and working are now extremely valued by collectors.
Tags: alarm clocks, Art Deco, Belgium, century, clockworks, Europe, France, inexpensive materials, Italy, mantle, mass, mass producers, mass production, production, twentieth