This Doric Temple Clock was a commission for a Classics Library. Although we tend towards gothic clocks, we do love classical architecture. So for this one we brushed off our tatty copy of Vitruvius’ The Ten Books of Architecture and turned to book four. We had some salvaged simple brass finials to hand, so we decided the Doric style would be the most appropriate.
Lots of Victorian clock makers made clocks in the form of long temples, but we wanted to make something more vertical and slender, something that could work as either a mantle clock or a wall clock. After a slightly manic afternoon at the drawing board, with designs covered in scribbled sums working out exact proportions, we were ready to go.
Instead of our usual mahogany, we thought a lighter wood would work better for this case, so we settled on obeche. Then the column tops and dial would be in brass, then we couldn’t resist putting Athena’s owl in the pediment – after all this was for a library. And this is the result.
Surprisingly, although the classical architecture looks quite simple, this was much harder than a gothic clock. The various decorative elements and layering took an age to get right, but were well with the toil to get right. This clock was a steep learning experience, but we learned an awful lot to incorporate into the next one.
If you’d be interested in commissioning something like this Doric Temple Clock, please get in contact.