These clocks got their name because they are shaped like a square seventeenth or eighteenth century lantern. That is, their mechanics are contained inside an upright, rectangular cuboid designed to look like a hand held candle lantern. The original lantern clocks were fitted with a iron back plate which contained a loop at the top and two spurs at the bottom that allowed the clock to be fitted to a wooden wall. However, as time went on and the clocks became more complex, it became more common to have a separate wooden shelf that could be directly mounted to the wall, and the lantern clock would be placed on it. In many later reproductions, this shelf is an integral part of the clock itself, though the appearance is of the metal clock sitting on a wooden shelf on the wall.

Generally speaking, lantern clocks are always made of metal. Originally they were made of iron, but most modern reproductions are made of either brass or steel. Similarly, they were encased with a metal back plate and metal doors on the sides that could be opened to access the clock’s mechanics. The traditional lantern clock also has frets fitted above the front plate to hide the gap between the clock and bell where the hammer hits. Although the design began fairly simply, later lantern clocks exhibited a lot of detailed metal work and fancy engraving which lent the clock a sense of decorative style. Most modern reproductions also include this fancy metalwork.

A buyer will notice that many reproductions of traditional antique lantern clocks only have one hand instead of two and this is keeping with the original style. Traditional lantern clocks only have one hand, though the face of the clock marks the hour, half hour, and quarter hour allowing for fairly precise time keeping. It is not uncommon to find reproductions with two hands, but this is a dead give away to a clock expert that the lantern clock is a reproduction and not an authentic antique.

Although there are exceptions, in general most authentic lantern clocks only strike the number of the hour. The hammer hits a bell inside the clock that strikes the number of the hour, so at eight o’clock the hammer will hit the bell eight times. There were a few antique exceptions, with a few lantern clocks that strike every quarter of an hour or included a music box to play a tune. Most modern reproductions that strive for authenticity only strike the number of the hour, though there are many less historically accurate variations, including the option to turn off the striking altogether.

Having an authentic looking replica of an antique lantern clock will give any room a feel of age and style and many replicas are reasonably prices as well. Further, if historical accuracy is not a big priority, you can easily find many modern clocks – with modern features – that are encased in shells that are obviously inspired by traditional lantern clocks. Further, since these clocks have not been popular for about two hundred years, having a lantern clock will give your room a very unique feel.

The seventeenth century saw the development of the Rococo style. This extremely ornate style favored by the French aristocracy was a full room style whereby every item in the room was an integral part of the overall presentation. The style was characterized by extremely ornate furniture, small statues, and wall hangings (elaborately framed paintings, tapestries and mirrors), which was used in conjunction with wall and ceiling paintings and ornate floors.

Not surprisingly, this also meant that clocks – at the time symbols of wealth and sophistication in France – were also done in Rococo style. The result was some of the most elaborately ornate wall clocks ever designed. Further, since these were commissioned by the wealthiest of the aristocracy, few designs were ever replicated or mass produced, instead almost all eighteenth century Rococo wall clocks are one of a kind original creations with a specific history.

Many of these Rococo style clocks – better known today as Cartel clocks – were made primarily out of ormolu, or gilt bronze, although other rare and beautiful materials were also employed. Most Cartel clock had both and hour and a minute hand but not a second hand, because the requisite pendulum for a second hand was too long to be hung without disrupting the style. The face of the clock was usually fairly plain, using black Roman numerals on a white background with ornate hands.

The real ornament was primarily confined to the clock case. Most Cartel clocks had extremely curvy, flowing lines as opposed to sharp angles, and were extremely elaborate in detail. Frequently these designs integrated in small figurines, leaves, vines, coats of arms, and other extremely detailed images. Beyond the gilt bronze, many were also inlaid with colored stones and glass and enhanced with enamel or paint embellishment. The over all effect was one of extreme elegance and artistry.

Today, real eighteenth century Cartel clocks are high value collector’s items, frequently being sold for tens of thousands of dollars. However, there are also several manufacturers that produce replicas and imitations which are much more reasonably priced. Rococo style generally integrated all decoration with the room to create the desired effect, but an extremely ornate imitation Cartel clock can still add a touch of luxury to a non-Rococo room.

Generally decorative wall clocks come in every conceivable style, are made of every conceivable material, and can be found to match every conceivable taste. From the most basic institutional style (black numbers and hands against a white face) to the most impossibly complex artisan clocks that are more works of art in their own right than useful devices for telling the time, the range is truly amazing. So too is the price range. Cheap wall clocks can be purchased under five dollars, whereas the most expensive is the “La Machine à Ecrire le Temps” by Jaquet Droz which is more a piece of art than a practical device and sells for $342,275. A few extremely rare antique clocks formerly owned by famous historical figures can sell for even more at auction.

The mechanics of different types of clocks are also extremely diverse. What makes the core mechanics different in types of clocks is the harmonic oscillator, a physical part of the clock that oscillates or vibrates at a precise frequency. This is how the clock tells time. in mechanical clock this is either the balance wheel or a pendulum. Some electric clocks use a tuning wheel. On clocks billed as “Quartz”, it is a piece of quartz crystal inside the clock that serves this function. There are other more arcane devices that accomplish the same thing, but they are not common.

If accuracy and precision is important to you, perhaps you should check into the lines of radio guided atomic wall clocks. Coming in a series of styles, these clocks automatically set themselves and automatically change for daylight saving time adjustments. These electrical clocks have a small radio receiver that receive the current time as set by a cesium atomic clock, the most accurate clock in the world based on the microwave emissions by atoms of the metallic element cesium. The atomic clock is so precise that it only loses one second ever 1.4 million years and serves as the basis for Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). You wall version receives a time update every day and automatically adjusts itself to reflect the exact proper time.