Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Mexican, 1936-2026

The sculptor and painter Pedro Friedeberg worked in a richly detailed, Surrealist and eccentric artistic style that blended influences from neoclassical art, M.C. Escher and native Mesoamerican symbolism. He was best known for his Hand chair — a functional sculpture that is an icon of design-as-art.

Friedeberg was born in Florence to German parents and moved with his mother to Mexico at the outset of World War II. As a university student in Mexico City in the 1950s, he initially studied architecture, but his designs for fantastical buildings ran afoul of his rationalist, Bauhaus-oriented teachers.

By chance, Friedeberg’s drawings came to the attention of Mathias Goeritz, the German-born Dadaist painter and sculptor. He encouraged Friedeberg and made him a protégé. Friedeberg credits his mentor for instilling in him a fanatical attention to detail in his work. Friedeberg produced his first Hand chair in 1961, and has since created numerous iterations. He has also made several variants using other human limbs in different functional forms such as tables and clocks.

While Friedeberg’s sculptures have a gentle character that is sometimes described as spiritual, his paintings and prints are something entirely different. He employs deep perspective to create hypnotic, painstakingly rendered canvases that suggest rooms and cityscapes.

Whatever the medium, Friedeberg’s work is arresting and instantly recognizable. The Hand chair, though familiar, remains a captivating piece — both furniture and artwork — that stands apart in any interior. Examples are often priced between $20,000 and $30,000, depending on formal variations (such as a foot-shaped pedestal), material and condition. Smaller functional items such as tabletop clocks bring about $9,000. His paintings and drawings require space; they are meant to be contemplated. Prices on original examples start at about $30,000; prints generally sell in the region of $900.

As you will see on 1stDibs, the art and design of Pedro Friedeberg is singular and memorable.

Creator: Pedro Friedeberg

Pedro Friedeberg Clock

$18,500

Pedro Friedeberg Clock

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A wonderful gold-leafed variation of this form. Signed under the foot.

Category

1970s Mexican Vintage Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Rare Iconic Surrealism Hand and Foot Sculpture by Pedro Friedeberg

$8,000

H 21 in W 10.5 in D 11.25 in

Rare Iconic Surrealism Hand and Foot Sculpture by Pedro Friedeberg

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in Atlanta, GA

An iconic hand-foot wood sculpture by celebrated Mexican American surrealist artist Pedro Friedeberg (1936-), circa 1960s. The tabletop model is of rare rendition in large size showc...

Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Pedro Friedeberg Untitled (Hand Truck) Table Top Sculpture. Mexico, 1978, Signed

$5,750

H 13.25 in W 20.75 in D 10.5 in

Pedro Friedeberg Untitled (Hand Truck) Table Top Sculpture. Mexico, 1978, Signed

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in Kansas City, MO

Surrealist sculpture by Mexican artist Pedro Friedeberg. This piece was created in 1978 featuring carved and gold leaf hands, carved walnut birds, carved wood hands, and brass elements attached to the lacquered wood truck...

Category

1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

Large French Walnut Brass Wall Sculpture Clock

$3,200

H 19 in W 51 in D 2 in

Large French Walnut Brass Wall Sculpture Clock

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Mid-Century Modern French Deco style wall clock sculpture. Nice combination of solid brass and walnut details. Dated 1959, stamped: Made in France.

Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

Mocap "White/Black" Illusionistic Wall Clock

$782 / item

H 29.53 in W 29.53 in D 3.94 in

Mocap "White/Black" Illusionistic Wall Clock

Located in Maastricht, NL

Mocap (white-black) Illusionistic wall clock Design: Jan Paul “Time is an illusion” Most wall-clocks have the same basic shape: round. Also t...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Post-Modern Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Steel

Pedro Friedeberg Zebra Bronze Sculpture

$8,000

H 25 in W 20 in D 15 in

Pedro Friedeberg Zebra Bronze Sculpture

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in Mexico City, MX

A zebra bronze sculpture by Italian-born Mexican artist Pedro Friedeberg. The zebra's series is 6 / 10 and has a dark patina finish. It is signed on the leg. The sculpture is mounted...

Category

2010s Mexican Post-Modern Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Pedro Friedeberg Egyptian Cat Clock

$25,000

H 12 in W 7.25 in D 3.25 in

Pedro Friedeberg Egyptian Cat Clock

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in NYC, NY

A very unusual table clock designed by Pedro Friedeberg featuring a wooden black Egyptian cat with the clock on its torso. The clock is also made of wood,...

Category

1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Pedro Friedeberg Moon Face with Hands Table Top Sculpture, 1970s, Signed.

$4,850

H 10.5 in W 14 in D 22.5 in

Pedro Friedeberg Moon Face with Hands Table Top Sculpture, 1970s, Signed.

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in Kansas City, MO

Pedro Friedeberg Moon Face / Half Moon Table top Sculpture. Walnut and wood with gold leaf. Very good condition. Few if any signs of handling. Signed to the back "Pedro Friedebe...

Category

1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Walnut, Giltwood

Pedro Friedeberg Silver Gilt Vintage Hand Clock

$16,500

H 17 in W 11.25 in D 7.5 in

Pedro Friedeberg Silver Gilt Vintage Hand Clock

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in Westport, CT

Pedro Friedeberg handcrafted silver leaf hand clock, vintage early 1960s, with original label from dated service inside, 1969.

Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Silver

Carved Hand Chair after Pedro Friedeberg

$17,950

H 44 in W 16 in D 16 in

Carved Hand Chair after Pedro Friedeberg

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in NYC, NY

A unique, hand-carved wood chair in the shape of a cupped hand with detailing down to the wrinkles and fingernails. The base whimsically detailed as a shirt cuff with buttons. Solid....

Category

1950s French Folk Art Vintage Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Pedro Friedeberg 1970's Gold Leaf and Wood Hand - Sun Sculpture

$2,000

H 7.88 in W 2.17 in D 2.17 in

Pedro Friedeberg 1970's Gold Leaf and Wood Hand - Sun Sculpture

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in Mexico City, MX

A 1970's carved wood with gold leaf "hand - sun" sculpture by Pedro Friedeberg. Signed on the base. Pedro Friedeberg was a Mexican artist and designer known by his surrealist work ...

Category

1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Gold Leaf

Pedro Friedeberg Snake Bar / Server / Table / Candle Holder / Sculpture, Signed

$29,500

H 51 in W 31 in D 40 in

Pedro Friedeberg Snake Bar / Server / Table / Candle Holder / Sculpture, Signed

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in Kansas City, MO

Pedro Friedeberg Snake bar, Mexico, c. 1970s. Made of carved and gilt wood, antique statuary, and glass. The stretched out hands hold the round removable glass tray and the upper han...

Category

1970s Mexican Post-Modern Vintage Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Glass, Wood

French Art Deco Clock

$3,036Sale Price|40% Off

H 12 in W 22 in D 5 in

French Art Deco Clock

Located in Pompano Beach, FL

French Art Deco clock, "Shepherds". Made of marble, onyx and bronze. Manual wind.

Category

1930s Vintage Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Onyx, Bronze

Previously Available Items

Pedro Friedeberg with Ceramic Table Clock

Sold

H 16.15 in W 11.42 in D 5.52 in

Pedro Friedeberg with Ceramic Table Clock

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in Mexico City, MX

A surrealistic ceramic table clock by Mexican artist Pedro Friedeberg. The clock's ceramic body has a glossy finish with clay-colored strokes. The...

Category

2010s Mexican Modern Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Ceramic

Surrealistic Sculptural Clock by Pedro Friedeberg

Sold

H 22 in W 16.5 in D 8 in

Surrealistic Sculptural Clock by Pedro Friedeberg

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in Atlanta, GA

An iconic carved sculptural clock by the famed Mexican surrealistic artist and designer Pedro Friedeberg (Mexican, b. 1937) circa 1960s. The whimsical...

Category

1960s Mexican Modern Vintage Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Surrealist Sculptured Clock by Pedro Friedeberg

Sold

H 27 in W 8 in D 10 in

Surrealist Sculptured Clock by Pedro Friedeberg

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in Atlanta, GA

An iconic sculptured clock by the famed surrealist artist and furniture designer Pedro Friedeberg (Mexican, b. 1937) circa 1960s. The piece from a series called "The Edge of Time...

Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Pedro Friedeberg Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Metal

Pedro Friedeberg table clocks and desk clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Pedro Friedeberg table clocks and desk clocks are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Pedro Friedeberg table clocks and desk clocks, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original table clocks and desk clocks by Pedro Friedeberg were created in the modern style in north america during the 20th century. Prices for Pedro Friedeberg table clocks and desk clocks can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $4,000 and can go as high as $18,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $13,500.

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