Name/Title
Clock: GE Box Clock, France, Model No._____Description
A General Electric (GE) Clocks Division box clock with a five-color silkscreen printed face on natural linen depicting imagery of Paris, France, c.1962-65.
The upper 1/3 of the composition is dominated by a clock face superimposed over line drawings of Notre Dame cathedral, l’Arc de Triumphe, the Eiffel Tower, and a bridge crossing the Seine. “FRANCE” fills the space behind these landmarks.
The lower 2/3 of the composition is a modified street scene featuring an advertising kiosk, a gargoyle from Notre Dame, a carved fountain, lighted signage, building facades, a striped awning, a streetlamp and a cast iron cafe table and chair.
This is one of three known box clock faces Wert designed for GE based on his own clock design patent; see images. Wert assigned the patent to GE in 1961 for a term of seven years, during which time GE manufactured the clocks and included them in their catalogs. Country Prints produced the linen clock faces in Gill, MA, and shipped them to GE for assembly.
According to a product tag found on a “Theme of Time” clock (see separate entry), Wert’s box clocks are among the first battery operated wall clocks produced by GE.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Robert Darr WertRole
ArtistManufacturer
Country Prints, General Electric ClocksDate made
circa 1962 - circa 1965Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
Location
Gill MA.Continent
North AmericaInscription/Signature/Marks
“by hand for GENERAL ELECTRIC”, lower right corner, and GE adhesive tag on battery operated clockworks.Dimensions
Height
29 inWidth
13 inDimension Notes
29” dimension given by seller diverges from other known examples at 27” and 27 1/4”.Material
Unbleached Linen, Textile Ink, Wood, Coodless Clock Works, PaintColors
Color
Blue, Yellow, Pink, Black, Gray, Dark GreenColor Notes
Dark green may be produced by overprinting blue and yellow.
