AntiqueCuckooClock.org – Our Select Pieces

Samuel Kammerer, Circa 1870

This clock is made by Samuel Kammerer, Circa 1870.

The clock has an 8-day fusee movement in heavy brass plates. The movement is signed "S. Kammerer, Furtwangen #1."

The case is 'over the top,' Gothic-carved and extravagantly done. The clock features a large zinc plate, with an oil painting of top quality. The clock is just over 4 feet tall, on its magnificent matching wall bracket,

and the only known example. Argued among serious collectors to be one of the most beautiful cuckoo clocks ever made.

Samuel Kammerer is known for making the very large 8-day, complex pneumatic trumpeter movements for the Emilian Wehrle firm. We are very excited and pleased to share this clock and proud to have it in our collection!

Beha #509

With double fusee spring movement, and a matched bracket. Circa 1870.

New to our collection, this beautiful piece has eye-catching carvings and a intricacy to detail not often found in other clocks of this period.

Beha – Tomey Industrial Exhibition Clock

This is a RARE carved wall clock made by Johann Baptiste Beha, circa 1861. It was featured in the Tomey Industrial Exhibition in 1861, in London.

We believe this is a 'one-off' clock, as factory records show no sale of a clock like this. At just under three feet tall, it features a beautiful double fusee movement with an 8-day duration.

Note the shape of the bellows and pipes, and how they are custom made to fit the contour of the clock case.

It is signed by Johann Beha and labeled by the curators of the exhibition – both in pencil.

Also, the cuckoo bird is about 50% larger than normal.

Beha – 'The Ascension of Christ' Clock

Here is a look at one of the most fantastic cuckoo clocks ever made. This was created in 1863 by Johann Baptiste Beha, and features a rare case, in a tight burled walnut, highly-polished, carved and also featuring a zinc front plate with a magnificent oil painting depicting the Ascension of Christ from the tomb.

This is one of the most sought-after clocks ever made. It is in every publication on the subject. It left its home of 38 years to join my collection recently.

It's a 'one-off' clock and is in excellent original condition. It is an 8-day, double fusee in beechwood plates. It is signed, dated and also has the beautiful original retailer's label.

The label reads, "E. SCHIRRMANN" of Paris.

This clock was carved by a renowned carver of the day, Peter Wehrle (photo at lower left is shown courtesy of 'Beha Uhren' – Wilhelm Schneider), revered by most as one of the best carvers to ever ply the trade in the Black Forest. Also seen at bottom right, is Johann and his wife proudly posing for a photo, Circa 1860. (Courtesy Cuckooland Museum UK).

Our Showcase: Outstanding Pieces From Our Collection

Beha # 929, Wall Monk and Cuckoo

A stunning exotic, Gothic carved wall clock, standing at just over three feet tall. The carving detail is absolutely breathtaking!

This clock was completed in July of 1876 and retailed to Austria. Made by Johann Baptiste Beha, this is another very rare example. Considered an "exotic clock," this clock features a weight driven three-train movement with a cuckoo calling the halves and full hours. Also twice a day, the monk figure in the bottom emerges and calls the "angelus" – striking rapidly with two strike hammers on twin gongs to simulate the ringing of the bells in the tower.

Also of the handful of these that are known to exist, this is the only example with an actual bell in the tower that rings, and is actually automated by the pull of the monk on the rope. Another rare feature and a detail discovered in our research, it is displayed here with its original twin weight, but a three-train movement, with one weight being significantly heavier and powering the time and the cuckoo trains, with a pulley splitting the tension. This detail was previously unknown, and lost over the years. With known examples (worldwide) numbering maybe five pieces, there are none featuring the original set-up with a shared weight.