A look at the design, market and legacy of Victorian pottery

Monday, January 15, 2018

Majolica Clocks

French majolica case made for New Haven Clock Co.

Ceramic clocks have a long history in European ceramics dating to Meissen's elaborate porcelain clocks of the early 18th Century. This tradition continued particularly in Germany and France through the last half of the 19th Century and the period of majolica manufacture. Elaborate clocks and matching garniture sets were extremely popular on the continent from the Belle Epoch to the early deco period. While there are examples of British and American clocks from the period, this was an area where continental majolica dominated. Wasuel, the Barbotine manufacturers, Dreyfuss, Sarreguemines, Massier and Choisy-le-Roi all contributed to the output.

Massier majolica iris clock

Massier majolica pansy clock

Massier majolica bird and floral clock

This Choisy-le-Roi shell clock repurposed the tray
from one of their food servers

Sarreguemines majolica clock

French Barbotine majolica clock

Barbotine floral majolica clock

E. Gilles Barbotine clock

Barbotine majolica garniture set

Wasmuẽl majolica clock

Wesmuel garniture set

Sergent majolica wall clock

Sergent majolica wall clock

Les Amis French majolica clock

George Dryfuss majolica clock case 
made for the New Haven Clock Works

Choisy-le-Roi majolica clock

Choisy-le-Roi majolica rooster clock
designed by Robert Louis Carrier Belleuse

Gien majolica clock

Lonitz, Schiller and Eichwald all had their own take on the clock form.

Lonitz majolica clock

Lonitz majolica clock and thermometer

Austrian majolica wall clock and thermometer

Continental majolica clock in the Barbotine style

Palissy type continental majolica clock



Lonitz majolica clock

Karlsruhe majolica clock

Continental majolica mantle clock

Eichwald majolica clock

Schiller & Son majolica garniture set

The English and American potters also made clocks. Of the American manufacturers, Haynes made and manufactured a number of different models of mantle clocks and garniture sets. The New Haven Clock Works sold a number of majolica clocks using their own movements; the majolica cases however were imported from France.
Minton majolica clock

Wedgwood majolica clock


Haynes clock in the Barbotine style

Haynes majolica mantle clock 


Haynes majolica clock

New Haven Clock Works clock in French majolica case

New Haven Clock Works clock in French majolica case

New Haven Clock Works clock in French majolica case

Clock collecting is a specialty area that attracts more general clock collectors than majolica collectors. This has kept the price of most pieces reasonable.