7.5

Art Nouveau – the Black Forest Clock Swings with the Times

At the end of the 19th century, clocks in historicist period design cases no longer reflected the taste of the times. By commissioning work from artists of the art nouveau school, such as J. Jagemann in Munich, Baden’s trade administration hoped to give the clock trade new impulses. However, these clocks with their modern appearance could not establish themselves on the market.

Not only was the exterior of many Black Forest clocks outdated; but so was the way they were produced. The quality of the clocks, based on the standards of skilled craftsmanship, had a price that hardly anyone was willing to pay.

The major clock factories in the Württemberg towns of Schramberg and Schwenningen, such as Junghans, Kienzle or Mauthe, had become overwhelming competitors. They had rigorously standardized clock construction in terms of industrial mass production and could sell reliable clocks that were unrivalled in price.

Ultimately, the depression of the 1920s spelled out the ruin of most of Baden‘s clock manufacturers.