Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
A whimsical and poignant mixed-media assemblage clock constructed from vintage found objects including a General Electric clock face, a lithographed tin box, a folding ruler, and a tintype photograph. This piece functions as both a timekeeper and a 'memento mori,' blending industrial relics with personal history.
Story
This piece breathes new life into discarded 19th and 20th-century fragments. By pairing a Victorian tintype with a mid-century GE clock face, the artist creates a bridge between the anonymous past and our present moment.
Maker / Origin
While the specific artist is currently unidentified, this work belongs to the rich American tradition of 'Found Object' or 'Assemblage' art. This movement, championed by artists like Joseph Cornell, seeks to find the sacred in the mundane, turning everyday refuse into poetic, narrative sculptures.
Condition & Value
The components show intentional 'shabby chic' wear, including rust on the tin and foxing on the clock face. The quartz movement appears to be a modern replacement, which is standard for functional assemblage. This 'found' patina is essential to the aesthetic and does not detract from value.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.