What’s a mantel clock? It’s a house watch that often sits on the mantel or shelf, above the fire, within a home, thus the name. These watchs came from France in the 1750s.

What made these new time pieces different from their close kin, is the absence of a huge handle on the pinnacle of the case. The ornamental watchs back then were built to be taken by carriage, and had the handle for simple maneuverability. Mantel watchs were built to be shown off in the home and are very lavish, inventive and decorative.

Mantel clocks were customarily made from ormolu, porcelain or wood. In the 1860s some of the French mantel clocks were made from onyx, marble, or slate. These were awfully dear to provide so when American corporations started to provide them, they used iron or wood. The woods used were often cherry or oak. In recent times even brass is used to make mantel watchs as there are lots of varied styles of mantle watchs produced in the modern age. Mantel and carriage watchs are both extraordinarily similar. The primary distinguishing attribute is naturally the enormous carrying handle found on the carriage watchs. Yet today however there looks to be some mixing of classifications. Some wooden mantel watchs with handles are called carriage watchs, although normal carriage watchs were made of brass. And Some brass mantel watchs without handles are called carriage watchs simply because they’re made from brass. In this era the classifications are unimportant. Nobody rides in a carriage any more and the majority of folk buying ornamental mechanical clocks aren’t purchasing them to be transported, as there are for more contemporary watchs or watches that will serve that purpose better. Both mantel and carriage watchs share similar mechanical movements and glass cases covering the dials.

Both generally have chimes on the hour playing the standard Westminster chime, or a range of other chimes. Modern Mantel and carriage watchs are also made in a much less expensive quartz battery powered movement. They’re less expensive to make, and do not want to be wound every 14 days.

Some think the history is lost when you use batteries and the antique quality or convention, not to mention the sound, is lost. mantel clocks are a time honored convention with a rich worldwide history and may continue to bring class to any home.