These 10 wall clocks are created by well-known designers and architects and each one reveals the various approaches to the same challenge: how to show the passage of time. These analogue clocks show the many ways that a simple wall clock can be fine-tuned and created into a design object--to be shown and displayed as a focal point on the wall of your living space
.1. Bankers Clock by Arne Jacobsen / Georg Christensen 1971 / Re-edition MAWA Design 2000
Arne Jacobsen designed the Bankers Clock for the Danish National Bank, Copenhagen in 1971 creating a design icon for the home or office. The clock glass is convex shaped and this is the largest version at 19" diameter.
2. Swiss Railways Clock by Hans Hilfiker 1944 for Mondaine
This iconic clock face design is seen in all the railway station clocks of the Swiss Federal Railways SBB [Schweizerische Bundesbahne].
The Swiss time icon of ingenuity and simplicity are the elements which often distinguish an attractive piece of design from a truly iconic design classic. The Mondaine Official Swiss Railways Clock is proud to be associated with such an example of excellent 20th century design. The simple design, the unmistakable easy-to-read face, distinctive hands and the famous red seconds hand have made the Mondaine collection successful the world over. In 1944, Hans Hilfiker, a Swiss Engineer and Designer and employee of the Federal Swiss Railways, created a clock, which has become known as the Official Swiss Railways Clock.
3. BNC006 by Dieter Rams and Dietrich Lubs for Braun 1982 / Re-edition Braun 2018
The outstanding design concept of this Braun classic wall clock draws from one of Dieter Rams design principle ‘good design is unobtrusive’ which is shown by its easy to read dial layout.
The Nelson Eye Clock is one of more than 150 clocks designed by George Nelson Associates for the Howard Miller Clock Company, which sold them from 1949 into the 1980s. Nelson Associates, first launched as a studio by George Nelson in 1947 in New York City. It can be hung vertically or horizontally, allowing it to fit in tight spaces. It appeared in the original Howard Miller catalog as Model 2238, hung on a diagonal.
5. HK Clock by Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen 1978
Created
originally in 1978 by legendary Georg Jensen collaborator Henning
Koppel, the iconic minimalist design has been updated with a stainless
steel casing that gives the clock a strong graphic appearance. Available in 3 sizes.
With his respect for both form and function, Henning Koppel was a leading figure in Scandinavian modernist design. His many pieces for Georg Jensen display his love for clean lines, understated luxury and quality craftsmanship. The clock’s simple white dial and bold black hands are framed by a stainless steel case with a polished finish. The internal precision quartz movement ensures excellent time keeping.
6. Romer by Arne Jacobsen 1937 / Re-edition MAWA Design 2000
The Danish architect, Arne Jacobsen designed the Romer Clock for the Aarhus City Hall (1937-42) in Aarhus, Denmark. This design icon with Roman numerals is a classic addition to your home or office. The clock glass is convex shaped and has a Junghans German quartz movement.
7. Firenze by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 1965 / Re-edition Alessi 1996
The Firenze wall clock was designed for the dining area of the exhibition “La Casa Abitata” [The Inhabited House] at the Palazzo Strozzi, Florence in 1965. This classic clock design with Roman numerals is archetypal of clock face tower designs found in central squares of Italian towns.
8. Walter Wayle II by Philippe Starck for Alessi 1988 / Re-edition Alessi 2010
A clock with no face...a kinetic wall sculpture...
Philippe Starck, world famous creator with multifaceted inventiveness, is always focused on the essential, his vision: that creation, whatever form it takes, must improve the lives of as many people as possible. Starck is currently designing the “Axiom Segment” of the International Space Station / ISS and will become home base for professional astronauts and private explorers and will enable universal access to living and working in space.
Permanent Collection: The Museum of Modern Art, New York / Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris / The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia
9. Lines Clock by Max Bill 1956 / Re-edition Junghans 2001
The concept of time was fascinating to Max Bill, a renowned 20th century Swiss architect and designer. Elegantly simple, this clock has a polished aluminum case, white dial and chromed-steel hands.
Permanent Collection: The Museum of Modern Art, New York
10. Raggiante by Michele De Lucchi for Alessi 2017
‘Raggiante’ is the sun that marks the passing of time even when it’s out of sight, hidden behind the Earth. Without its rays everything becomes dark, everything stops and we wait calmly; everyone knows that it will pop up again just on the opposite side from where it was tucked away. It always returns to wake up the world, to make the leaves sparkle, to dissolve the clouds.” -- Michele De Lucchi
Raggiante is made of bamboo wood and is 19" in diameter.
Studio Brillantine is a design shop in Toronto, Canada and carries an extensive selection of gifts as well as international design objects and curated gift ideas from all over the world.