Black Forest, tin clock man, “Uhrentrager” circa 1850. A polychrome painted bell man with the head, hands and legs of wood, also polychrome colored. The clock vendor is in traditional clothing, wearing a 30-hour clock on the chest and another clock on the back. Clockmen once walked around in Germany’s Black Forest. They made a living selling and repairing timepieces, but disappeared with the arrival of clock shops. Presented here is an antique figure of a Schwarzwald clock man or clock carrier. The man is wearing a wide low hat, wearing a shirt with a scarf, an overcoat with buttons and knee breeches. He is holding a walking stick in his right hand. He holds clockwork weights in his left hand. A rectangular tin clock that runs 30 hours is attached to the front of his chest and abdomen. The clock is non-functional. and has no clapper. The clock has a wooden dial with Roman numerals. The figure is made of wrought iron except for the hands, head and lower legs which are in wood. This figure is hand painted in cold polychrome. It stands on a tapered rectangular gold-colored base. The figure can be dated from around 1850 and is of German or Bohemian origin. Marks are missing.

Condition: the movement does not work and the key is missing, the walking stick has been replaced, some wear to the polychrome. However, this figure remains very decorative.