Posted 8 years ago
Hotlantan
(1 item)
Hello! Got this nifty mantel clock off ebay after it was listed as being "solid wood." I asked for clarification and they led me to believe it was solid precious wood (not veneer over cheaper wood like it actually is). When I received it, I could see where the veneer had worn off in various spots (not shown in the ebay pics, of course). Long story short, I got a partial refund and now am stuck with something I didn't bargain for. Lesson learned. :-)
That said, this is a fascinating little clock. It's either a Chinese or Japanese maker (see Pic 2 for closeup of the maker's mark, which also appears stamped on the inner works (see Pic 4) -- I believe those are Chinese characters due to their complexity but sometimes Japanese ones can look similar). Based on the font of the numbers on the face, the shape of the clock, and the style of the inlay pattern on the veneer, I'm guessing it comes from the Deco period. If it's Chinese, that means it would have had to date during the KMT-controlled Republic of China era (I'm guessing not during the Japanese occupation as production of such items might have fallen off -- or perhaps the opposite could be true?).
It measures 13"W x 5"D x 10"H at its highest point. It is constructed of a solid inexpensive wood -- not sure what kind, but the door on the back is made of a different wood that could be oak as it's a bit denser/harder/heavier. There is a very thin decorative veneer that looks like striated mahogany or even macassar; I'm unsure as to whether it's real wood veneer or a thin material printed to look as such, but it has variation that makes it look real, not manufactured. The veneer on the sides is the same as that on front panel around the faceplate; a similar veneer of different bolder stripey pattern is found on the decorative curved corner edges on the front. A small band of what appears to be inlay work (but might just be a printed inlay pattern) goes around the edge of front panel of the clock. The back does not have any veneer, nor does the bottom. There is a very faint "12" stamped on the bottom; no way to tell if it's original or got added later by a subsequent owner.
The brass (?) faceplate opens but does not have the glass insert that it probably once had. There are two places to wind the clock, and the back has a door with a little knob (Pic 3) that opens to show the brass (?) inner workings (Pic 4), which are stamped with the maker's mark as previously mentioned. I haven't been able to wind it up to see if it works but there's nothing suggesting that it doesn't. I manually tested the chime and it makes a very full mellow gong-like tone.
Can anyone help me unravel the mystery of where this clock comes from, who made it, and what it might be worth? Many thanks in advance!
