An Art Deco clock is a clock designed in the Art Deco style that flourished between the two world wars, roughly from the early 1920s to the late 1930s. Typical examples are mantel, desk and wall clocks with strong geometric cases, stepped outlines, bold numerals and stylised dials.
Cases were made in materials that expressed the modern spirit of the age, such as polished marble, onyx, chrome, glass, lacquer, Bakelite and exotic veneers, sometimes combined with bronze or spelter figures. French makers produced many fine examples, while British manufacturers such as Smiths made large numbers of mantel clocks with both mechanical and synchronous electric movements. Luxury houses including Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre created small desk clocks of exceptional quality, and the Atmos clock appeared during this period. When assessing an Art Deco clock, collectors look at the quality of the case and dial, whether the movement is original and working, and the condition of any glass, enamel or figure. Chips to marble and onyx are common and affect value, as do replaced hands or later movements.
