Unusual Mantel Clocks
Buy the best unusual mantel clocks selected and recommended by interior designers. By Tara Gosselin.
As one of the focal points in any room, a mantel should be treated with the same level of attention to detail as a console table. Lend style and functionality to this area is by incorporating them with unusual mantel clocks. Practical with touches of whimsy, these types of clocks will make your fireplace more interesting as it adds another layer of your personality. Whether you’re into chic pieces or vintage styles, these options from our design team will tickle your fancy.
Unusual Mantel Clocks
Buying Guide
Tara Gosselin
Interior Design Expert
Tara is a San Antonio-based award-winning landscape architect, writer and educator, passionate about eco-friendly solutions and growing her own food. She knows all it takes to help you create a sustainable backyard retreat that combines blissful charm with a modern take on landscaping.
For modern interiors, you should look for a unique mantel clock that represents the decade that you’ve mainly drawn inspiration from when decorating your home.
For example, art deco mantel clocks usually involve trapezoid shapes and the bold, geometric typefaces that characterized the 1920s. In mid-century modern rooms (50s and 60s), you could consider longer rectangular or oval designs, starburst elements, and lines rather than numbers.
For modern-inspired interiors that don’t focus on a specific décor style, you can emphasize their vintage feel by choosing darker wooden models.
You want your unique mantel clocks to be the main focal point on your mantelpiece, so, when you’re decorating with these pieces, refrain from introducing too many other pieces of decor in the same place. When you do place other decor pieces nearby, make sure that they coordinate instead of contrast; this will make the clock seem like the star of the show instead of having to compete for attention.
Use pieces of decor that have similar colors or materials in them to achieve this effect. However, we’d pare back on other decor pieces and truly let the unique mantel clock shine in its home environment.
Both decorative and functional, mantel and tabletop clocks provide a stylish way to keep up with the time. While many of us look to our phones to find out the time, mantel and tabletop clocks can also provide a sense of nostalgia and purpose even in today's high-tech world.
As such, it may have been a while since you've shopped for a mantel or tabletop clock. If you've done any type of browsing so far, you know there are so many clocks to choose from! We've created this handy guide to help you home in on your perfect timepiece and wind down your search quickly.
- A mantel clock is designed to sit atop a shelf (mantel) above the fireplace. These clocks are decorative and have been a mainstay for mantel décor for centuries. They generally have an outside casing of wood or metal and a face with hands pointing to numerals as the internal mechanism keeps time; as such, they are considered analog in function.
- A tabletop clock sits atop a table or shelf and can be decorative, utilitarian, or both. They come in both analog and digital displays (digits reflect time instead of the clock face with hands and numbers.) They come in all styles, shapes, and materials.
When is the last time you heard a clock chime, gong, or tick-tock? Taking the time to read the hands of an old-school analog clock face can bring immense pleasure. Or if you are into contemporary style, a silent modern digital clock in brilliant metal will give you a sense of timeliness. No matter, there is a clock type to suit your taste and needs.
Anniversary
Often brass or silver mechanism with ivory or white face enclosed by a glass dome. As its name suggests, it runs approximately a year without changing the battery or winding the key. For use on a mantel, shelf, and tabletop.
Bracket
A metal face clock with a decorative wood case and handle on top. Tends toward traditional style. Square or rectangular in shape.
Carriage
First created centuries ago for use in horse-drawn carriages, these clocks have a large handle at the top for holding. They are best used at the bedside or sofa side as they are smaller than most mantel clocks. Come in brass, gold, and silver casing with decorative faces and hands.
Tambour
With its distinct camelback shape, this traditional clock is the most common type of mantel clock. It is most often made of smooth wood with a round clock face.
Old World/Maritime
Made from wood or metal, these clocks keep time as well as additional measurement devices like air pressure and direction.
Alarm
Can be vintage with alarm bells on top or digital with alarm speaker. Come in a variety of shapes and styles from traditional to contemporary. Ideal for setting at the bedside or on a table.
A myriad of clock styles to decorate your mantel, tabletops, and shelves can be found. Some have decorative faces, while others have cases made of pure brass. To help you determine the clock for you, consult the décor styles with correlating detail suggestions below.
- Traditional: Wood or metal casing, ornate detailing, decorative clock face with Roman numerals, accent legs or pedestal, handle top, glass dome. Analog.
- Contemporary: Analog or digital, numberless face, modern numerals if any, geometric or round shape, stainless or nickel casing.
- Vintage: Analog, round or oval case, brass or stainless finish, alarm bells on top, decorative face, roman numerals, rounded feet.
- Modern: Medium to light wood or leather casing, mid-century style, retro numerals, and slender hands. Analog.
- Antique: Pendulum style mechanism, wood or metal casing. Analog.
- Eclectic: Decorative themed faces and casing - nature, birds, flowers, sports, beach. Wood, metal, plastic. Digital or analog.
From quartz clocks to digital alarms to antique models, the mechanism used to power these timepieces typically fall within three categories:
- Battery-Operated: Battery power offers smooth movement that keeps excellent time. No-fuss and low-maintenance. Available in both mantel and tabletop clocks. Tabletop travel clocks are also made with batteries.
- Key Wound: These are typical of antique clocks, and luxury made clocks. A key is inserted into a hole then wound on a dial to activate the clock's mechanical mechanism. These clocks need to be wound every 8, 14, or 31 days depending upon the movement setting.
- Electric: Common to digital and radio clocks, an electrical cord is plugged into a wall socket to power the clock's timekeeping mechanism.
Both type clocks run the price scale from ten to thousands of dollars. Antique mantel clocks will run at the top of the scale, while digital alarm clocks start as low as a few dollars. Once you decide on placement and budget, then you'll be able to figure what clocks fit within your price range.
- A stately wood and brass mantel clock set above the fireplace surround makes an impressive focal point in the traditional living room or study.
- Battery operated tabletop clocks are ideal for decorating spaces where electric plugs are sparse.
- A decorative desk clock can keep you on track while working from home.
- Use a large digital tabletop clock beside the bed to track time when eyes are bleary with sleep.
- Gift an anniversary clock to a special couple in honor of their milestone.
- Choose a tabletop clock with filigree scrollwork and decorative face for a touch of French style on a shelf or table.
- Perch a tabletop clock on a stack of books for alongside a table lamp for a pretty vignette.
A mantel or tabletop clock can add style and function to any room from the bedroom to the living room. These classic pieces can be used in a variety of ways to enhance your décor and lifestyle.