Cuckoo Clocks. A cuckoo clock is a simple form of an automaton clock. It is typically a pendulum-regulated clock that strikes the hours with a sound like a common cuckoo’s call and has an automated cuckoo bird that moves with each note. Some move their wings and open/close their beaks while leaning forward, whereas in others, only the bird’s body leans forward. The mechanism to produce the cuckoo call has been in use since the middle of the 18th century and has remained almost without variation until the present.It is unknown who invented it and where the first one was made. It is thought that much of its development and evolution was made in the Black Forest area in southwestern Germany (State of Baden-Württemberg), the region where the cuckoo clock was popularized. The cuckoo clocks were exported to the rest of the world from the mid 1850’s on. Today, the cuckoo clock is one of the favorite souvenirs of travelers in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It has become a cultural icon of Germany. Reference: Wikipedia
Below are some examples and price guides of antique cuckoo clocks including a late 19th century Black Forest cuckoo clock and a cuckoo table clock.
A LARGE LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY GERMAN ‘BLACK FOREST’ CARVED AND STAINED WOOD CUCKOO CLOCK
With an elaborate pierced twin bird and floral pediment and surround, the 6 1/2in dial with pierced Roman numerals and hands, the twin gut fusee movement striking on a gong with pendulum and key, 74cm high (29in high)
16cm wide, (6in wide
Sold for £ 750 at Bonham’s in 2018
A SWISS ‘BLACK FOREST’ STAINED WALNUT CUCKOO TABLE CLOCK
LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY
The case of chalet form carved with oak leaves, tree trunks and mushrooms, surmounted by a St. Bernard on the roof, the ebonized chapter ring with applied faux bone numerals, with painted cuckoo emerging from a door above
29 ¾ in. (75.5 cm.) high, 18 ½ in. (46.9 cm.) wide, 9 ½ in. (24.1 cm.) deep
Sold for USD 4,375 at Christie’s in 2018
Hunter Style Black Forest German Cuckoo Clock #859
8 day, 20 inches, Regula Clock 859, made in Germany, , no weights
Sold for US$115 at Auctions By B. Langston, LLC in 2022
