Our museum was very fortunate to acquire this one-of-a-kind 'tramp art' clock in May 2019. The dimensions: 38" high, 24" wide, 9" deep. The clock dial and spring-driven movement may have been taken from a mantel clock imported and sold by the Blackforest Clock Company in Toronto in the early 1930s.
This unique clock was made in 1934 by Harry Sykes in Welland, Ontario. The design pays homage to Britain's King George V (1910-1935).
Harry entered his creation in a craft competition at the 1935 Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto and he won second prize ! His success was noted in a column in the August 24, 1935 edition of the Welland Tribune newspaper.
Apparently there are 986 (!) pieces of carved old cigar boxes wood plus scores of rosettes. The animals at the sides of the case are cast metal, not hand carved wood, which apparently cost Harry first prize in that competition.
This unique clock was on display for eighteen months through 2017 and 2018 at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico (United States). It was part of an exhibition of tramp art objects called No Idle Hands, and was included in the massive book that documents the exhibition: No Idle Hands * The Myths & Meanings of TRAMP ART (editor L.M. Addison). This clock is shown in Plate 111. We have a copy in front of the clock.
Tramp Art??? There are many online resources: "Tramp art is an art movement found throughout the world where small pieces of wood, primarily from discarded cigar boxes and shipping crates, are whittled into layers of geometric patterns having the outside edges of each layer notch carved. The artists used simple tools such as a pocket knife to carve the recycled wood." (Clifford A. Wallach). Many practical items, including clock cases, were created mostly by men with various backgrounds during the period from the 1870s to the 1940s. Mr. Wallach's 2012 definitive book is called A Legacy in TRAMP ART. This clock is honoured in his book and we have a copy in our museum's reference library.
We are pleased to acknowledge the financial assistance of David Field to be able to add this made-in-Canada clock to our unique museum's collections.
Allan Symons
Curator |