There are some very fine examples of wall
clocks in this collection which might be copied in carved wood by the
students of manual training schools, if the manufacturers refuse to be
interested.
Wall clocks first came into France in the early part of the Seventeenth
Century, and are a part of the furnishing of all the fine old French
houses. A number of the most interesting clocks I have picked up were
the wooden models which served for the fine bronze clocks of the
Eighteenth Century. The master designer first worked out his idea in
wood before making the clock in bronze, and the wooden models were sold
for a song. I have one of these clocks in my dining-room. It is as much
a part of the wall decoration as the lights or the mirrors.
The wall clocks I like best are fixed directly on the wall, the dial
glass opening so that the clock may be wound with a key. You will notice
such a clock in the photograph of one of my dining-rooms. This fine old
clock is given the place of honor in the main panel of the wall, above
the console table. I often use such a clock in a dining-room, just as I
use the fine old French mantel clocks in my drawing-rooms. You will
observe a very quaint example of the Empire period in the illustration
of my drawing-room mantel. This clock is happily placed, for the marble
of the mantel, the lighting-fixtures near by and the fine little bronze
busts are all in key with the exquisite workmanship of the clock.
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