1930s Art Deco Westminster Chiming Mantel Clock – Serviced Vintage Clock
Meet Dorothy, a wonderfully elegant Art Deco mantel clock dating from around the 1930s, combining a beautifully figured wooden case with a traditional mechanical Westminster chiming movement.
Her compact arched case is particularly attractive, with warm figuring running across the curved top and front, subtle stepped detailing along the lower edge and small block feet. It is a classic piece of inter-war design: restrained, beautifully proportioned and just decorative enough.
The large silvered chapter ring is especially striking, with bold stylised black Arabic numerals surrounding an open centre which allows the timber of the case to form part of the dial itself. A hinged glazed bezel completes the front.
Inside is a traditional three-train mechanical movement operating the timekeeping, Westminster quarter chimes and hour strike. The familiar Westminster sequence builds through each quarter before playing the full melody on the hour, followed by the appropriate number of hour strikes.
Dorothy has been sympathetically restored and mechanically serviced by Mahn & Co with the intention of preserving the character of an approximately ninety-year-old clock rather than making her look artificially new.
- ✓ Movement fully dismantled, cleaned and inspected
- ✓ Mainsprings lubricated with Novostar oil, pivots with synthetic clock oil
- ✓ Reassembled, adjusted and tested
- ✓ Time, Westminster chime and hour strike trains run-tested
- ✓ Case sympathetically revived to bring back warmth and figuring
Small marks and imperfections accumulated during Dorothy's long life have been left in place rather than polished away. These are part of her history and are visible in the photographs.
The silvered dial, bezel and hands retain age-related patina and wear, visible in the photographs. Rather than over-restoring these elements, they have been left with the character expected of a genuine vintage clock. The dial is discreetly marked FOREIGN, as was required on many imported clocks supplied to the British market during the period.
| Date | Circa 1930s (indicative, based on case and dial style) |
| Style | Art Deco |
| Movement | Mechanical three-train |
| Chime | Westminster quarter chime with hour strike |
| Dimensions | Approx. 22cm (8.7in) high × 27cm (10.6in) wide × 13cm (5.1in) deep |
| Condition | Restored, serviced and tested |
Mechanical clocks are wonderfully individual objects. Each has its own tick, tone and personality, and small variations in timekeeping are entirely normal. Following transport, a clock may occasionally require minor regulation once settled into its new home. Simple setup guidance is provided where required.
Dorothy has been prepared as a clock to be used and enjoyed, not simply displayed. A characterful survivor from the Art Deco period, now ready for the next chapter of her life.