The Beautiful Bowtie

This. Is a Bow-tie clock. It's so mid century and actually dates to the early 1950s. It took me awhile to figure out what it was called so I could look for information on these amazing pieces. It was made by United Clock Corp., out of Brooklyn in the 1950s. 

United made objects under their own name and in the early 60s they bought out Sessions Clock Co. after the company lost a million dollars. Their fanciest clocks were called Carnival Clocks and they were the fancy impossible prize no one could win at carnivals. Sailing ships, stage coaches, ballerinas and bowlers plus the usual atomic wall clock with spindles that are so highly collectible these days. 

United was not a high end company like Westclox or Elgin; think of them as the Walmart of mid century clocks. Affordable and lots to choose from. United folded late in the 1960s and although the clocks are still around they are getting rarer 50 some years later.

This clock, the bow tie clock, came with a mystery. The back leg was stamped Lucien Lelong, which was an immediate mystery to be solved by moi. How did a Brooklyn clock get the name of a French designer on it? Remember, this is the very early 1950s, way before designers did tie ins and cross marketing, plastering their name on everything from bath towels to cans of paint. 

I hunted and hunted and found zero zip no connection between the great perfume and couture house of Paris, which by the way is credited with saving haute couture from the Nazis. Here's a link to the story (http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG3497094/Lucien-Lelong-the-man-who-saved-Paris.html) 

there's the mysterious leg

Lucien Lelong perfume bottles are a very big deal but Lucien Lelong clocks? One exists stuck in the front of a perfume bottle, no help. I put my query about the connection out there on Facebook in a group of curious thrifters I belong to hoping the hive mind could help me figure it out.

Bingo. A guy named Ben figured out the leg in the back was actually a brass lipstick case cover from a 1940s Lelong sample lipstick. I am impressed. 

This is American Kintsugi, the art of graceful scars. as it is also known. Saving something beautiful and making it more beautiful, even with a scar or repair. It takes a serious commitment to workmanship and honoring the nature of what it is you are returning to life to do it well. I say this clock fits the paradigm because this little foot cover has been minutely cut out on either side and carefully fitted and welded, not glued, on the leg. If I hadn't turned it over to photograph it, I never would have spotted the Lelong name.

I love it because it helps button down the date of this beautiful clock to the late 1940's or very early 50s.  AND it works like a dream. It was opened and gently had air blown through it to remove any old dirt that might gum up the clock motor. 

AND it works and keeps perfect time. The lights can be turned off or on for ambiance. This was before television was a big deal so nope, its not a television clock. Its art, bow tie art.  It's going to eBay to find a new home, sigh, I love it but my esthetic is more like a cat clock with a swinging tale.