Vintage Smiths 8 Day Mantel Clock – Art Deco oak Wooden Mantel Clock Made in Eng

Vintage Smiths 8 Day Mantel Clock – Art Deco oak Wooden Mantel Clock Made in England

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Fully working makes a lovely mechanical ticking noise ( not tested for accuracy may require a service)

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20 cm wide

15 cm tall

7 cm depth

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Displayed with other items illustration only not included

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A handsome vintage Smiths 8 Day mantel clock with a distinctly Art Deco influence, set in a rich dark oak wood case with stepped shoulders, fluted side detail, and a square silver-tone bezel framing a clean cream dial. The dial is marked Smiths, 8 Day, and Made in England, with striking stylised black Arabic numerals and elegant original hands that give it wonderful period character.

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This is the sort of piece that sits beautifully on a mantelpiece, bookshelf, or sideboard, bringing instant warmth and a traditional English interior feel. The case has a pleasing shape and a good solid presence, making it both decorative and practical.

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Condition:

Presented in good vintage condition with age-related wear as expected. There is some light marking and surface wear commensurate with age, including light wear to the dial and case. The rear winding area is present as shown. As with many vintage clocks, it is best sold as an older timepiece that may benefit from a clean or service depending on how precise the buyer wishes it to be.

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untested / not guaranteed for accuracy. Fully working makes a wonderful ticking noise ( mechanical wind up mechanism)

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Maker history:

Smiths was one of Britain’s best-known clock and instrument makers. The company developed from S. Smith & Son, founded in the 19th century as a London watch and clock business, and later grew into Smiths English Clocks Ltd, becoming a major manufacturer of domestic clocks, car instruments, and industrial timing equipment. During the early to mid-20th century, Smiths became especially well known in British homes for its reliable mantel and wall clocks, many of which combined practical movement design with fashionable case styles of the day, including Art Deco and later mid-century forms. Clocks marked “Made in England” are especially appealing to collectors who value traditional British manufacturing.

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vintage Smiths mantel clock, Smiths 8 day clock, Art Deco mantel clock, vintage oak wooden mantel clock, made in England clock, English mantel clock, vintage shelf clock, Smiths clock vintage

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Disclaimer line:

Description given to the best of our knowledge but cannot be relied upon as accurate.

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Art Deco was a decorative style and design movement that came to define modern glamour between the 1920s and 1930s.

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It emerged in France just before the First World War, but truly took shape in the years that followed, when designers, architects, jewellers and makers began moving away from the flowing, nature-inspired lines of Art Nouveau. In its place came something sharper, cleaner and more confident. Art Deco embraced symmetry, bold geometry, strong outlines and a love of luxury.

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The name comes from the 1925 Paris exhibition, the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. That event helped popularise the style internationally and gave it the label we use today. Although the style was already developing before then, the exhibition became its great public showcase.

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Art Deco drew influence from many places. It borrowed from Cubism, the Ballets Russes, ancient Egypt, classical art, African design, Aztec motifs and the streamlined energy of the machine age. This mixture gave it a distinctive look: sunbursts, zigzags, stepped forms, chevrons, stylised flowers, fountains, skyscraper shapes and elegant figurative designs.

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The style reflected the spirit of the interwar years. It was associated with progress, modern living, travel, speed and sophistication. Ocean liners, cinemas, cocktail culture, department stores and luxury goods all helped spread the aesthetic. It appeared across architecture, furniture, ceramics, glass, posters, fashion, silver, lighting and everyday household objects.

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In architecture, Art Deco became especially striking. Buildings often featured strong vertical lines, curved corners, stylised relief decoration and lavish materials. In Britain, Europe and America, it was used for cinemas, hotels, apartment blocks and public buildings. In the United States, famous examples include the Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Center interiors. In Britain, Deco flourished in seaside architecture, suburban interiors and commercial design.

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By the late 1930s, tastes began to shift. The economic pressures of the Depression and then the Second World War made the style’s lavishness less practical. After the war, cleaner and more functional modernist design took over. Even so, Art Deco never truly disappeared. It was revived by collectors and historians in the later 20th century and remains highly admired today.

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For antique and vintage lovers, Art Deco is so enduring because it combines elegance with modernity. It can feel luxurious, theatrical and streamlined all at once. Whether in a chrome clock, a geometric tea set, a cut-glass scent bottle or a walnut cabinet, Deco still looks fresh and unmistakably stylish.