Antique mantle clocks, or the term mantel clocks, is a rather generic term that can refer to many different types of clock. However, within the confines of this page I will give a description of the different types of clock that you are likely to come across. Different countries, the UK and the US sometimes use two different names to describe the same clock, but sometimes each country has its own type of clock.
The whole idea of the mantle clock was to be placed on the mantlepiece and is similar in looks to the bracket clock but generally is much smaller. As time went by and the mantlepiece became smaller and thinner, so the antique mantle clock also became thinner and smaller. Today's bare minimum architecture in new homes, many without the mantlepiece, is a disaster for our antique mantle clock displays!
Antique Mantle Clocks The French had what were called Mantle Clock sets. These were highly ornamental pieces consisting of two separate ornaments that sat next to the central mantle clock. These were mainly produced during the first quarter of the 19th Century and are highly popular and sought after today.
The antique mantle clock is probably the most prominent of all clocks made throughout the years. Throughout the 1700s the English produced by far the majority of all mantle clocks, whereas during the 1800s French and German clock makers took over and made clocks in huge numbers. As more clocks were made so the overall quality dropped off, generally speaking as clocks get younger you should begin to look for known makers to ensure good quality and value.
The American market was more than adequately satisfied with mantle clocks, or Shelf clocks as they were known in the US, from the early 1800s. The Americans were the first to utilize mass-production and they did this quite early on, so as well as having vast quantities of good quality wood for clock cases they also had machinery earlier than other clock making countries.
Horizontal Escapement as used in 400-Day clocks Another interesting variation of the antique mantle clock is the 400-day clock, also known as the Anniversary clock. This type of clock was popular because it only needed winding every 400 days but at the same time it did need to be set up correctly and left well alone to function properly. These clocks differed from the normal spring or pendulum clocks in that they had four balls that rotated around a vertical pillar, using the horizontal escapement shown on the right. They were protected under glass domes and I always note how smooth these clocks run when set up properly.
The Skeleton Clock is also a very interesting feature on anyone's mantlepiece. Because the works of the clock is on show, the workmanship has to be of the highest quality. Skeleton clocks are actually some of the earliest clocks, some being from the mid 16th Century being drum clocks. It was the French that really made these clocks popular around the 1750s with their spring driven antique mantle clocks. The English never caught on to the skeleton clock until about 1820, when all the main centers of clock production, London, Liverpool and Birmingham making large numbers.
One name to look for on a skeleton clock is that of John Smith & Sons of Clerkenwell. Their clocks are 8-day running using a spring driven fusee drive. Many have musical features such as chimes using four or eight bells. Probably the most common escapement used was the anchor escapement, but don't be surprised to find other types of escapement in fine quality clocks.