Your Guide to Buying an Antique Grandfather Clock

 

Your Guide to Buying an Antique Grandfather Clock

 

 

Also known as longcase or tallcase clocks, Grandfather clock are

easily recognisable by their tall wooden frames, chimes and long

pendulums. Many of these historical timepieces are sought after

for home furnishing or collections, and buyers often focus on

purchasing a piece for their unique style and size. In order to make an

informed decision, however, a prospective buyer should consider

some simple guidelines to ensure that they are aware of their options.

This Antique clock guide aims to assist those interested in grandfather

clocks with considerations such as what distinguishes one as an antique,

the selection available on the antique market, the specific features to look

for, and methods for their care and maintenance. With these points in

mind, a buyer can be better prepared to introduce the right grandfather

clock to their collection or home.

 

 

History of Antique Grandfather Clocks

 

                                                         Grandfather clocks were developed during the mid-seventeenth

                                                         century, shortly after the swinging pendulum was introduced into

                                                         clock technology. English clockmaker William Clement is often

                                                         regarded as the designer of the first grandfather clocks. The early

                                                         designs, predominantly fashioned from oak,, were also finished  

                                                         with other materials such as ebony, and became fashionable

                                                         additions to mainly upper class homes. Though regarded as

                                                         beautiful, clock technology took several more years before it

                                                        could tell accurate time, and it was in Britain where

                                                        some of the finest quality pieces were first crafted and

                                                        sold around the world. Ornamentation to the face and cabinet changed throughout the following centuries, and by the early 1900s, many grandfather clocks had stunningly crafted dials and were often fitted with quarter-hour chimes. Many of these complex designs of the past are now widely sought after as antique additions to modern collections and homes.

 

Discover Antique Grandfather Clocks

 

Standing at around 1.8 to 2.4 meters tall, a grandfather clock has a prominent presence in any home. Decorating hallways and living rooms with a piece of history, these large but intricately designed clocks combine the mechanics of a pendulum with the aesthetics of its movement and sound. It is important to note, however, that these historical timepieces do not constitute an antique by default, even though many carry the feel of an antique in their design. A buyer should note that the term ‘antique,’ though somewhat debated, generally refers to an item that is at least one hundred years old. The year 1930 is also considered by some to be a time measure for the term, but regardless of which is applied, an antique grandfather clock is unique due to its age, as well as its construction.