Swedish Mora Clock - Isabella

Approximate measurements: 83" at the tallest point, 21" wide at the body, 22.5" wide at the base, 10" deep at the base

Tucked away in the heart of the Swedish midlands, the coastal city of Mora will forever be known for its creation of the Mora Clock.  The magic of the Mora Clock lies in the unique craftsmanship and means of survival for the Swedish.  Facing a severe drought in the 18th century, the people of Mora fled to the more populated town of Stockholm.  During this move, the people of Mora learned the craft of clock making.  Each family specialized in a key component of the production of the Clock.  From the delicate painting of the face, the rigorous carving of the body, to the intricacy of the internal component assembly, it is fair to say the finished Mora Clock is one of a kind and built from a labor of love.  The locals began the tradition of gathering their family around the clock each Sunday morning for the required weekly winding for the week ahead. The Mora Clock was a celebrated symbol of specialized craftsmanship within each family, and often gifted during traditional Swedish weddings.  Painted Mora Clocks will have the date of the wedding gift on the upper body; the actual production of the clock, would have dated to much, much, earlier.   Craftsman of the mechanical components would often paint their initials on the clock face as a way to show the pride of their work.  Due to the limited availability of glass in Sweden at the time, a limited set of clocks produced had a glass viewing window on the lower body.  

Mass production and importation of German and American clocks made it economically impractical for the family craftsmanship of the Swedish Mora Clock to continue.  And so, around 1850, all production of the Mora Clock ceased.  Historians estimate approximately 50,000 Mora clocks were ever produced.  The modern movement saw the replacement of the internals of many clocks, eliminating the need to wind the clocks each week.  For this reason, it is quite rare to find a Mora clock with all of the original, functioning internal components, allowing it to tell time.  Their scarcity, and unique feminine form are what make them a collectors item today.  While they may not function to tell time, we believe them to be an incredible legacy that deserves to be celebrated.

Our Mora Clocks are brought to you in collaboration with White and Faded, a brand we have cherished for many years.  When moving your Mora Clock, be sure to remove the head, and internal clock face first, then move the body separately.  We do not recommend moving all three pieces at once.