Hello Chris,
Thank you for sending in your table clock for appraisal. I wish you had shown me the movement but I am fairly certain I know what you have. I will try to help you with the appraisal.
TITLE:
Stained dark hardwood (walnut or stained oak), eight day time and striking mantel clock, unsigned, made in Germany, circa 1900-1915.
DESCRIPTION:
CASE – The clock case is surmounted by a double caddy top ornamented with Dore bronze (gilt spelter) finals, some in a floral style with one applied to the front of the lower pediment. The case assumes an architectural form with canted sides and projecting elements of the corners of the pediment. A multi-stepped overhung cornice sits above the square glazed dial door and is flanked by the chamfered case corners holding gilt metal caryatids at the top with gilt brass ornaments at the lower end of the canted corners. A beveled glass sits over the dial. There are glazed side-lights on the case. Below the case door there is a bulbous molding with applied foliate Dore bronze decoration which continues on the convex corners of the base and around to either side. The case rests on Empire style ogival scrolled feet with a crenelated apron between the feet. . .
DIAL – The square brass alloy single piece dial plate has a silvered Roman hour chapter ring, half hour markers, closed minute ring to the outside, applied rococo Dore bronze applied spandrels in each corner of the dial, steel Teutonic fenestrated hands and the dial is unsigned. There is an aperture @12 for altering the speed of the movement. . .
Movement: Not shown but likely a solid brass plate movement with tubular pillars of brass or steel connecting the plates. Post 1900 the plates would be held together by screws and nuts, while prior to that pins were used. A short pendulum with brass bob would hang from the top of the rear plate and swing behind the movement. The movement is powered by two springs of eight day duration and strikes the hours on a gong as well as the half hours. The movement is also likely not signed. . .
Condition: In very nice condition with no major damage. Likely fully functional and a good timekeeper. A handsome German made clock.
HISTORICAL -
By the start of the 20th century the German clockmakers were not only competing with English and American products but making a finer clock at a cheaper price. This continued up until WW I, following which they tried to make a comeback, but never recaptured their old market share. Their products were mostly unsigned because they felt they wanted to be able to sell in England and America, and they tried to sell them as if their clocks were simply a local product, as ‘Made in America’. They copied a host of American and English clock designs and reproduced them at will. Their product was better made and sold at a lower price point until the outbreak of the Great War.
Comparing this clock to other time and strike German table clocks of this period selling at various auctions leads me to believe that the fair market value of your clock would fall between $250 and $400 in today’s marketplace.
I hope I have been of some service to you and that you are better able to understand what you own.
My best,
David