So the very special piece of furniture at Nordic Style, which I mentioned on Monday in the post A Trip to the new Nordic Style in Wimbledon, is an antique Swedish Moraklocka! This can probably best be translated as a type of Grandfather Clock made in the town Mora in Sweden and today we are looking into the history of this lovely design:
Antique Moraklocka at Nordic Style in Wimbledon
General Grandfather clocks were actually invented in England around the 17th century. They quickly grew in popularity and could soon be found ticking away in castles around Sweden. A century later they had become real status symbols in society and great manufacturing products in Sweden. The first Swedish clocks were made at Stjärnsund in the county Dalarna, which soon became the place where clockmakers received their training and created the most beautiful clocks. A huge part of Mora’s population were eventually involved in the trade in one way or another, and travelling salespeople brought the pieces with them and sold them across the country.
A Moraklocka at Nordic Style in Wimbledon
The name of the buyer was often written on the face of the clock
There was a system to making these clocks and usually a clockmaker would create the clockwork whereas a carpenter made the cover. The clockwork would often carry the signature of the maker, whereas the cover remained unsigned – despite the beautiful handiwork. It was also common practice to write the name of the buyer on the face of the clock, which we can see in the picture above.
The inside of a Moraklocka
… and another view of the inside of the clock
For a clock to be rightly be called a Moraklocka the clockwork must come from Mora, but not necessarily the cover. The style of the cover was a straight design until around year 1800, inspired by the English grandfather clocks. After that the style of Rococo inspired a curvy cover, which remained the popular style until late into the 19th century, and I was delighted to find that covers were often given local characteristics by painters in the different Swedish parishes. The oldest known signed Moraklocka dates back to 1750. (2)
Nordic Style Scandinavian Furniture in Wimbledon Village
They have a lovely selection of Moraklockor at Nordic Style, which you can find here.
Sources:
(1) Klockimport.com
Decades of Elegance 
Gorgeous clock! I have been looking for a statement clock for my home for a while. Not too fussed on a trad Grandfather though. I wonder if they ship to Australia or have a distributor here? Cheers, Sharee.
How lovely to hear from you dear, I have sent you an email with some further details. These clocks really do make such a beautiful addition to the home! iida xoxo