Archive for February, 2011
I’m no shrinking violet and my decorating style reflects that. I’m always looking for big, bold pieces that are unique and stylish. Recently I added a grandfather cuckoo clock to my living room to serve as the focal point.
I searched through many grandfather cuckoo clocks from traditional and antique clocks to modern clocks with interesting exteriors. In the end, I settled on a one-of-a-kind Carved Bear grandfather clock. It has a wooden exterior that is decorated with two tall pine trees running up the sides. At the bottom between the two trees is a mama bear with her cub, carved in intricate detail. Every 15 minutes the figures at the top of the clock dance. The piece is incredibly charming and an excellent anchor for the room.
Route of the Clock
Believe it or not, cuckoo clocks are a big tourist attraction in Germany. Black Forest cuckoo clock enthusiasts can take a 300 kilometer long scenic route through the forest. It passes by Triber, Furtwangen, St. Margen, and Eisenbach.
The town of Furtwangen in particular is important to the history of the Black Forest cuckoo clock. Furtwangen’s clock museum has a global reputation. It stores the largest collection of old German clocks, a collection that’s rooted in the clock-makers school established in the town in during the 19th century. It was the school’s first headmaster, Robert Gerwig, who urged people to collect old hand-carved clocks.
I have no formal training in interior design, but I have always had an eye for style. My friends often consult me when redecorating their homes. I don’t mind at all because it gives me an opportunity to shop without incurring any expenses of my own. The latest project I’m helping out with is decorating the newly remodeled kitchen in my friend’s country home. I’m all about accessorizing, so I insisted that we look for the ultimate accessory: a handmade cuckoo clock.
When an object is handmade, it usually means that it has been made with incredible craftsmanship and artistry. We browsed through many handmade cuckoo clocks online before settling on a one-day hand-carved German cuckoo clock. The clock features intricate maple leaf designs, as well as birds, and pine cones. The cuckoo chimes on the hour and half-hour. The cuckoo clock now hangs as the focal point of one of the walls in my friend’s beautifully rustic kitchen.