What are mechanical clocks?

A mechanical clock is made with an oscillating mechanism that marks the passing time. An escapement counts its beats. The first mechanical clock was made out of iron, and was first seen in medieval Europe. You’ll find a collection of mechanical clocks from many of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

How do I wind a banjo clock?

To wind a banjo clock, insert the key into the winding point. Turn the key in a clockwise fashion until the winding mechanism disengages. If you no longer have the winding key, see an experienced clock repair shop for assistance. You'll find a variety of banjo clocks on 1stDibs.

How do you wind an Elliott clock?

To wind an Elliott clock, first, find the slot in the back. Insert the key or crank and turn until the winding mechanism doesn't move anymore. Avoid forcing the mechanism any further to prevent damage. On 1stDibs, shop a range of clocks from some of the world's top sellers.

Who invented the first mechanical clocks?

A Chinese monk named I-Hsing invented the first mechanical clock in 723 AD. His astronomical clock was known as the Water Driven Spherical Birds-Eye-View Map of The Heavens. You can find a variety of antique and vintage mechanical clocks on 1stDibs.

How does a mechanical alarm clock work?

To make a mechanical alarm clock work, you need to use the wind-up keys or buttons to set the time. Mechanical alarm clocks use an oscillating wheel and springs. Most mechanical alarm clocks come with two bells that ring by means of a gear, powered by the mainspring. The gear moves quickly between the two bells, sounding the alarm. Find vintage alarm clocks on 1stDibs.

How do I wind an Ansonia mantel clock?

To wind an Ansonia mantel clock, first insert the key into the center winding point, usually found on the back. Then, turn the key clockwise until the winder no longer turns. Repeat the process in the right winding point to set the quarter-hour charm and the left winding point to set the hour strike. You'll find a range of Ansonia clocks on 1stDibs.

What were mechanical clocks used for in the Middle Ages?

Mechanical clocks were used for a variety of reasons in the Middle Ages. The clocks were used to keep track of hours for daily prayers. They also helped monks to calculate solar and lunar eclipses, and also determined feast days with accuracy. On 1stDibs, find a collection of mechanical clocks from some of the world’s top sellers.

Mechanical Wind Up Clocks

Art Deco Pink Glass Mantle Clock By Smiths Clocks Ltd

$653

H 6.3 in W 8.67 in D 1.97 in

Art Deco Pink Glass Mantle Clock By Smiths Clocks Ltd

By Smiths English Clock Systems

Located in Devon, England

bezel. Previously a mechanical wind up clock has been converted to a battery quartz clock now and it is

Category

Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

Chinese Art Deco Carved Mahogany Mantle Clock, circa 1900

$1,685

H 16.75 in W 12 in D 6.25 in

Chinese Art Deco Carved Mahogany Mantle Clock, circa 1900

Located in Nantucket, MA

transitional style with a period wind-up mechanical clock, featuring an Immortal figure on the top, Chinese

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Mantel Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

27" French Style Mystery Brass Lady Cherub Upside Down Chain Ball Swinging Clock

$2,850

H 27 in W 9 in D 9 in

27" French Style Mystery Brass Lady Cherub Upside Down Chain Ball Swinging Clock

Located in Danville, CA

an 8 day mechanical wind up movement. The whole clock is measured in 27" high. The statue is made of

Category

Late 20th Century Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Recent Sales

1960s Italy Ritz Pink Art Deco Wind-Up Alarm Table Clock in Lucite and Brass

Sold

H 6.25 in W 8.5 in D 1.5 in

1960s Italy Ritz Pink Art Deco Wind-Up Alarm Table Clock in Lucite and Brass

By RITZ

Located in Chula Vista, CA

Art Deco fabulous pink vintage table clock by RITZ made in ITALY 1960s Mechanical Wind-up Alarm

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

Brass Atlanta Zodiac Table Clock, 1960s, Germany

Sold

H 10.24 in Dm 8.67 in

Brass Atlanta Zodiac Table Clock, 1960s, Germany

By Atlanta Clock Co.

Located in Den Haag, NL

Very nice attractive Zodiac desk clock mechanical wind up clock work. Brass. Works perfect. Good

Category

Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

Mechanical Wind Up Ingraham Desk Small Ball Clock, circa 1900

Sold

H 3 in Dm 3 in

Mechanical Wind Up Ingraham Desk Small Ball Clock, circa 1900

Located in Van Nuys, CA

unit. Mechanical pocket watch design ball clock, wind the winding knob for running the small clock

Category

Antique Early 1900s More Clocks

Materials

Brass

Beautiful Walnut Sunburst Mechanical Wind Up Wall Clock

Sold

H 1 in Dm 20 in

Beautiful Walnut Sunburst Mechanical Wind Up Wall Clock

By George Nelson

Located in Rockaway, NJ

George Nelson style circa 1970s walnut sunburst mechanical wind up wall clock.

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Large and Impressive 1930s Art Deco Nickel-Plated Mantle Clock

Sold

H 7.09 in W 10.44 in D 2.76 in

Large and Impressive 1930s Art Deco Nickel-Plated Mantle Clock

Located in Devon, England

. Fully serviced and working on an 8 day mechanical wind up movement. This clock is definitely one that

Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Art Deco Mantel Clocks

Materials

Nickel

27" French Style Mystery Brass Lady Cherub Upside Down Chain Ball Swinging Clock

Sold

H 27 in W 9 in D 9 in

27" French Style Mystery Brass Lady Cherub Upside Down Chain Ball Swinging Clock

Located in Danville, CA

an 8 day mechanical wind up movement. The whole clock is measured in 27" high. The statue is made of

Category

Early 2000s Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Mechanical Rotisserie, 19th Century

Sold

H 16 in W 35 in D 10 in

French Mechanical Rotisserie, 19th Century

Located in Doylestown, PA

An unusual French Mechanical Rotisserie, circa 1870, with wind-up clock mechanism. These were

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Fireplace Tools and Chimne...

Materials

Iron

People Also Browsed

Vintage art deco blue glass table clock

$1,350

H 8.25 in W 8.25 in D 2.25 in

Vintage art deco blue glass table clock

Located in Houston, TX

Beautiful Art Deco Cobalt Blue Table Clock English Moderne Circa 1930's

Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Glass

KIENZLE Art Deco Macassar Ebony and Oak Mantle Clock

$888Sale Price|20% Off

H 10.5 in W 15.5 in D 5.5 in

KIENZLE Art Deco Macassar Ebony and Oak Mantle Clock

By Kienzle Clocks

Located in Chicago, IL

1930s Art Deco mantle clock by Keinzle, one of the top clock manufacturers in Germany during the Art Deco period. Constructed of Macassar Ebony or Zebra wood and oak wood with brass ...

Category

Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Mantel Clocks

Materials

Metal, Brass

Gilded Peacock Sculpture in Porcelain and Crystal

$83,770

H 25.6 in W 25.6 in D 13.39 in

Gilded Peacock Sculpture in Porcelain and Crystal

Located in Paris, FR

Sculpture gilded peacock handmade in precious porcelain one by one, feather by feather. Each feather is unique. Made with shiny porcelain, hand-painted with 24-karat gold and preciou...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Animal Sculptures

Materials

Crystal, Gold Plate, Brass

Fossilised Skull of Prehistoric Marine Reptile the Mosasaur, 70Million Years Ago

$34,957

H 6.3 in W 15.75 in D 5.91 in

Fossilised Skull of Prehistoric Marine Reptile the Mosasaur, 70Million Years Ago

Located in Puglia, Puglia

Upper Cretaceous, about 70-65 million years ago (Maastrichtian) Morocco The skull is reconstructed in good proportions with fossil pieces found in a phosphate mine in Morocco. I att...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier African Natural Specimens

Materials

Bone

art deco table clock, Bayard brand, works.

$747

H 9.85 in Dm 7.88 in

art deco table clock, Bayard brand, works.

By Bayard

Located in Mouscron, WHT

art deco table clock, Bayard brand, works.

Category

Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

Rare Victorian Firescreen with Taxidermy Hummingbirds by Henry Ward

$235,040Sale Price|33% Off

H 51.19 in W 55.12 in D 201.58 in

Rare Victorian Firescreen with Taxidermy Hummingbirds by Henry Ward

By Henry Ward

Located in Amsterdam, NL

England, third quarter of the 19th century On two scrolling foliate feet with casters, above which a rectangular two-side glazed frame, with on top a two-sided shield with initial...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy

Materials

Other

Art Deco Marble Mantel Clock

$4,813

H 11.25 in W 15 in D 4.5 in

Art Deco Marble Mantel Clock

Located in Norwich, GB

Art Deco Mantel Clock Art Deco mantel clock house in a finely figured marble stepped case with applied Art Deco style brass mounts. Rectangular brass bezel opening to t...

Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble

Art Deco Stylish Display Vitrine Cabinet in Walnut, English, 1930s

$3,369

H 51.97 in W 44.89 in D 13.78 in

Art Deco Stylish Display Vitrine Cabinet in Walnut, English, 1930s

Located in Devon, England

Beautiful and original 1930s Art Deco English walnut display cabinet. A lovely piece of furniture that's veneered in figured mid tone walnut. Still retains its original silk interior...

Category

Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Vitrines

Materials

Glass, Walnut

JAZ Paris 1930 Art Deco Geometric 8 Days Glass Desk Clock in Stainless Steel

$2,250

H 7.26 in W 9.82 in D 2.15 in

JAZ Paris 1930 Art Deco Geometric 8 Days Glass Desk Clock in Stainless Steel

By Jaz

Located in Miami, FL

A desk clock designed by Jaz Paris. A beautiful and very handsome desk clock, created in Paris France by the the clock company of Jaz during the art deco period, back in the early...

Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel

"Caldwell Clock w/ Siena Marble and Caryatids", Lorillard Estate, Tuxedo Park

$16,500

H 18.5 in W 17 in D 6 in

"Caldwell Clock w/ Siena Marble and Caryatids", Lorillard Estate, Tuxedo Park

By J.E. Caldwell & Co.

Located in Philadelphia, PA

An extraordinary work of art by America's leading maker of luxe objects for homes and businesses in the early 20th century, this large and heavy Siena marble clock by J. E. Caldwell ...

Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Late 19th Century Pair of Bronze Atlas Sculptures with Globe & Armillary Sphere, circa 1900

$395,000

H 89 in W 22 in

Late 19th Century Pair of Bronze Atlas Sculptures with Globe & Armillary Sphere

Located in Fredericksburg, VA

This pair of bronze sculptures of Atlas with Globe & Armillary Sphere are of high cast quality. Pairs have sold for over 700,000 Euro. Their condition is excellent for age and has ve...

Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Nude Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Steinway & Sons Concert Grand Piano

$1,470,631

H 42.92 in W 108.27 in D 61.03 in

Steinway & Sons Concert Grand Piano

Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR

This extraordinary concert grand piano with 88 keys was made by the prestigious firm Steinway & Sons around 1894. The case's decoration was entrusted to the company Cuel & Cie and mo...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Musical Instruments

Materials

Wood, Giltwood

Art Deco French Enameled Silver Desk Clock

$2,995

H 2.75 in W 4 in D 1.25 in

Art Deco French Enameled Silver Desk Clock

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

This enameled silver desk clock is unsigned, so a specific maker cannot be identified, but the case was made in France, and the movement in Switzerland in the period and style of Art...

Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Silver, Brass

Pure Art Deco, Marvelous Design & Warm Color Nutwood Mantle / Desk / Table Clock

$2,350

H 8 in W 16.75 in D 7.25 in

Pure Art Deco, Marvelous Design & Warm Color Nutwood Mantle / Desk / Table Clock

Located in Lisse, NL

Beautiful design and also practical in size Art Deco table clock. Over the years we have sold a number of striking (no pun intended) Art Deco clocks, but never one as cool and alm...

Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Mantel Clocks

Materials

Brass

Art Deco Bakelite Telechron Clock

$1,950

H 7.5 in W 6 in D 3.75 in

Art Deco Bakelite Telechron Clock

By Paul Frankl

Located in Chicago, IL

Beautiful Period Art Deco Bakelite Telechron Clock in the manner of Paul Frankl As Found Condition. Missing the glass lens. the metal piece in front is loose. Most importantly, Waln...

Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bakelite

Carlo Bugatti Style Art Deco Marble Clock

$2,980

H 8.27 in W 16.54 in D 6.7 in

Carlo Bugatti Style Art Deco Marble Clock

By Carlo Bugatti

Located in Vienna, AT

French Art Deco marble mantel clock in the style of Carlo Bugatti in original condition. France, first half of the 20th century, measures: length 42 cm. Original condition.

Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Brass

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Mechanical Wind Up Clocks For Sale on 1stDibs

Find a variety of mechanical wind up clocks available on 1stDibs. Frequently made of metal, brass and copper, all mechanical wind up clocks available were constructed with great care. Mechanical wind up clocks have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. Mechanical wind up clocks made by Art Deco designers — as well as those associated with folk art — are very popular at 1stDibs. There have been many well-made mechanical wind up clocks over the years, but those made by Arthur Imhof, H. Luppens & Cie and Hermle are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much are Mechanical Wind Up Clocks?

The average selling price for at 1stDibs is $1,325, while they’re typically $450 on the low end and $7,999 highest priced.

Finding the Right Clocks for You

A sophisticated clock design, whether it’s a desk clock, mantel clock or large wall clock for your living room, is a decorative object to be admired in your home as much as it is a necessary functional element. This is part of the reason clocks make such superb collectibles. Given the versatility of these treasured fixtures — they’ve long been made in a range of shapes, sizes and styles — a clock can prove integral to your own particular interior decor.

Antique and vintage clocks can whisk us back to the 18th and 19th centuries. When most people think of antique clocks, they imagine an Art Deco Bakelite tabletop clock or wall clock, named for the revolutionary synthetic plastic, Bakelite, of which they’re made, or a stately antique grandfather clock. But the art of clock-making goes way back, transcending continents and encompassing an entire range of design styles and technologies. In short, there are many kinds of clocks depending on your needs.

A variety of wall clocks can be found on 1stDibs. A large antique hand-carved walnut wall clock is best suited to a big room and a flat background given what will likely be outwardly sculptural features, while Georgian grandfather clocks, or longcase clocks, will help welcome rainswept guests into your entryway or foyer. An interactive cuckoo clock, large or small, is guaranteed to bring outsize personality to your living room or dining room. For conversation pieces of a similar breed, mid-century modern enthusiasts go for the curious Ball clock, the first of more than 150 clock models conceived in the studio of legendary architect and designer George Nelson.

Minimalist contemporary clocks and books pair nicely on a shelf, but an eye-catching vintage mantel clock can add balance to your home library while drawing attention to your art and design books and other decorative objects. Ormolu clocks dating from the Louis XVI period, designed in the neoclassical style, are often profusely ornate, featuring architectural flourishes and rich naturalistic details. Rococo-style mantel clocks of Meissen porcelain or porcelain originating from manufacturers in cities such as Limoges, France, during the 18th and 19th centuries, exude an air of imperial elegance on your shelves or side tables and can help give your desk a 19th-century upgrade.

On 1stDibs, find a range of extraordinary antique and vintage clocks today.

Questions About Mechanical Wind Up Clocks

What are mechanical clocks?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
A mechanical clock is made with an oscillating mechanism that marks the passing time. An escapement counts its beats. The first mechanical clock was made out of iron, and was first seen in medieval Europe. You’ll find a collection of mechanical clocks from many of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
How do I wind a banjo clock?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
To wind a banjo clock, insert the key into the winding point. Turn the key in a clockwise fashion until the winding mechanism disengages. If you no longer have the winding key, see an experienced clock repair shop for assistance. You'll find a variety of banjo clocks on 1stDibs.
How do you wind an Elliott clock?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
To wind an Elliott clock, first, find the slot in the back. Insert the key or crank and turn until the winding mechanism doesn't move anymore. Avoid forcing the mechanism any further to prevent damage. On 1stDibs, shop a range of clocks from some of the world's top sellers.
Who invented the first mechanical clocks?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
A Chinese monk named I-Hsing invented the first mechanical clock in 723 AD. His astronomical clock was known as the Water Driven Spherical Birds-Eye-View Map of The Heavens. You can find a variety of antique and vintage mechanical clocks on 1stDibs.
How does a mechanical alarm clock work?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertAugust 24, 2021
To make a mechanical alarm clock work, you need to use the wind-up keys or buttons to set the time. Mechanical alarm clocks use an oscillating wheel and springs. Most mechanical alarm clocks come with two bells that ring by means of a gear, powered by the mainspring. The gear moves quickly between the two bells, sounding the alarm. Find vintage alarm clocks on 1stDibs.
How do I wind an Ansonia mantel clock?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
To wind an Ansonia mantel clock, first insert the key into the center winding point, usually found on the back. Then, turn the key clockwise until the winder no longer turns. Repeat the process in the right winding point to set the quarter-hour charm and the left winding point to set the hour strike. You'll find a range of Ansonia clocks on 1stDibs.
What were mechanical clocks used for in the Middle Ages?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Mechanical clocks were used for a variety of reasons in the Middle Ages. The clocks were used to keep track of hours for daily prayers. They also helped monks to calculate solar and lunar eclipses, and also determined feast days with accuracy. On 1stDibs, find a collection of mechanical clocks from some of the world’s top sellers.