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History of Mission Style Clocks
Origins and Terminology
Mission clocks are a style of clock from the 19th century Arts & Crafts design movement. Mission clocks are known for their super simplistic design.
The Name "Mission": The Mission movement was one attributed to a guy named Stickney. He was a furniture maker located somewhere in the South East USA. However, this contains a common error—the correct name is Gustav Stickley (not Stickney), and he wasn't from the Southeast.
Some people even prefer to call them Stickley clocks since Gustav Stickley was the one to bring a&C style to the USA. The term "Mission" became synonymous with this American adaptation of the Arts and Crafts aesthetic.
The Arts and Crafts Movement Foundation
British Origins: William Morris and others conceived of the Arts & Crafts Movement as a reaction against the industrialization of production and to the elaborate clutter of Victorian style. The Movement celebrated individual craftsmanship and a cohesive approach to architecture and design.
The movement arose in England and Scotland in the latter part of the 19th century, emphasizing social reform, handcrafted goods, and honest use of materials as an antidote to mass-produced, poorly made Victorian goods.
Gustav Stickley: The American Pioneer (1858-1942)
Early Life and Training: Gustav Stickley was born March 9, 1858 in Osceola, Wisconsin. One of eleven children of German émigrés Leopold and Barbara Schlager Stoeckel, Gustav Stickley was born Gustavus Stoeckel. Gustav Stickley learned the furniture business early on, working for his uncle in Brandt, Pennsylvania. He and his brothers later established a furniture business in Binghamton, New York.
European Inspiration: Gustav Stickley became an avid promoter of the Arts and Crafts Movement in America after his 1898 trip to England and his acquaintance of William Morris. Stickley returned to the United States determined to interpret their ideas in a uniquely American way.
The Revolutionary "New Furniture" (1900): In the summer of 1900, he worked with Henry Wilkinson and, possibly, LaMont A. Warner to create his first Arts and Crafts works in an experimental line called the New Furniture. He introduced, about 1900, a new line of sturdy oak furniture whose virtues of simplicity, functionality, and soundness of construction were for Stickley an expression of democratic values.
Company Evolution: Following the introduction of a new line of Arts and Crafts furniture in 1901, the company was renamed United Crafts. Two years later, with expansion into metalwork, textiles and home design, it was renamed Craftsman Workshops, which lasted until its dissolution in 1916.
Design Philosophy and Characteristics
Core Aesthetic: The American Arts and Crafts Movement sought to bring recognition back to bespoke handcrafted pieces made by artisans, with a focus on the material more than the design. Mission furniture and decor focus more on function than aesthetics.
The style was to be utilitarian and functional. It was in response or reaction to the Victorian style of furniture with its glitzy carvings and ornamentation.
Key Design Elements: The simple designs of these mission style clocks focus on horizontal and vertical lines and flat panels that accentuate the grain of the solid Oak.
These clocks feature clean, straight lines, minimal ornamentation, and straightforward clock faces. While they still come in tall cases made of hardwood like oak and cherry, and with the weights and pendulum that are characteristic of grandfather clocks, the mission style is more minimalist with a more modern aesthetic.
Structural Expression: Unadorned, plain surfaces were enlivening by the careful application of colorants so as not to obscure the grain of the wood and mortise and tenon joinery was exposed to emphasize the structural qualities of the works. Hammered metal hardware, in armor-bright polished iron or patinated copper, emphasized the handmade qualities of furniture.
The Era of Popularity (1900-1920)
Market Peak: The popularity of Craftsman furniture waned after a decade and a half, and in 1916 Stickley ceased publishing his magazine and gave up his bankrupt workshops to two younger brothers.
Broader Cultural Impact: The most popular house style that grew out of this movement was the American Bungalow, which was the most popular house style in the U.S. from 1900 to 1920. Mission clocks were designed to harmonize with these Craftsman interiors.
Manufacturing and Distribution
Movement Suppliers: Seth Thomas never made any mission style clocks, or at least none have been recorded. However, Seth Thomas and other major manufacturers did supply movements to case makers.
Seems like furniture manufacturers built cases and bought movements to match their needs. I have seen floor clocks as well as wall clocks. Lots from Chicago.
This manufacturing pattern was common—furniture makers who specialized in Mission style would purchase reliable American movements (from New Haven, Seth Thomas, Waterbury, or others) and install them in their Arts and Crafts style cases.
Stickley's Clock Production: A Gustav Stickley oak and copper mantel clock circa 1900, movement by Seth Thomas dial stamped with Gustav Stickley logo and SETH THOMAS MOVT. This demonstrates that even Stickley himself used purchased movements rather than manufacturing his own.
Types of Mission Clocks
Mantel Clocks: Small to medium-sized shelf clocks featuring quartersawn oak cases with simple, geometric lines. Often incorporated hammered copper or brass hardware and exposed joinery.
Wall Clocks: Vertical rectangular designs with clean lines, sometimes featuring decorative spindles or cutouts that echoed Mission furniture details.
Grandfather (Tall Case) Clocks: Mission grandfather clocks combine the traditional tall wooden case, large clock face, pendulum, weights, and the quintessential sound of the chime, with a minimalist design that the modern world has embraced.
These featured substantial quartersawn oak construction, straight-lined cases, and minimal decoration beyond the wood grain itself.
Stickley's Bankruptcy and Aftermath (1915-1916)
Financial Collapse: In 1915 Stickley filed for bankruptcy — he owed nearly a quarter of a million dollars, The Craftsman ceased publication by the end of 1916, and he was forced to sell Craftsman Farms in 1917 to stave off foreclosure.
By then the taste of the American people that 15 years earlier had embraced the clean, strong lines of Craftsman furniture changed once again, this time towards the revival of early American and other styles.
Family Continuation: In an attempt to rescue their older brother, the other Stickley brothers formed Stickley Associated Cabinetmakers, absorbing The Craftsman Workshops.
Leopold and John George Stickley had begun L&J.G. Stickley in 1905, and they continued producing furniture in the Craftsman style even after Gustav's bankruptcy.
Dating and Identification
Period Characteristics (1900-1920): Mission-style clocks experienced a bit of popularity in that period (1900-1915). Most authentic period Mission clocks date from this era.
Identifying Features:
- Quartersawn white oak (often fumed with ammonia for a darker finish)
- Exposed joinery (mortise and tenon, through-tenons, pegged construction)
- Hammered copper or iron hardware
- Simple, geometric forms emphasizing vertical and horizontal lines
- Minimal applied decoration
- American movements (New Haven, Seth Thomas, Waterbury most common)
- Substantial, sturdy construction
Modern Revival (1970s-Present)
Renewed Interest: In 1972, an exhibition at the Princeton Art Museum reignited interest in the style. In the 1980s, the E.J. Audi furniture company, capitalizing on this renewed interest, bought the remaining Stickley furniture business and once again began to offer classic Craftsman furniture.
Contemporary Production: These mission grandfather clocks are still handmade by traditional crafters like the Amish, who pay careful attention to every detail. They also still use time-honored methods and tools.
Inspired by historical Mission designs, this sturdy, handsome clock is nicely sized for a mantel, desktop, or shelf. It's made from quartersawn white oak and the face includes Arts and Crafts–style typography. Modern Stickley furniture companies continue to produce authentic Mission style clocks today.
Collectibility and Value
Period Pieces: Original Mission clocks from the 1900-1920 period, especially those marked by Gustav Stickley or his brothers' companies (L&J.G. Stickley, Stickley Brothers), are highly collectible. Values vary greatly based on maker, condition, and provenance.
Challenges in Attribution: Because many Mission clocks were produced by small furniture makers who purchased movements from major manufacturers, attribution can be difficult. Many period Mission clocks bear no maker's mark except for the movement manufacturer.
Related Styles and Terminology Confusion
The overlapping of styles is confusing and infuriating. Mission overlaps, Arts and crafts (and is sometime synonomous) and their are differnt types of "Mission". Some "late mission" style buidlings look almost Art Deco, with their straight lines and geometric shapes.
The terms "Mission," "Arts and Crafts," "Craftsman," and sometimes "Stickley" are often used interchangeably for this style, though technically "Craftsman" refers specifically to Gustav Stickley's branded products.
Summary
Mission style clocks emerged from the American Arts and Crafts movement (1900-1920), pioneered primarily by Gustav Stickley. These clocks emphasized simple, functional design with clean lines, exposed joinery, and quartersawn oak construction—a dramatic departure from ornate Victorian styles. Most were produced by furniture makers who installed purchased American clock movements into Arts and Crafts style cases. After waning in the 1920s, the style experienced a major revival in the 1970s-1980s and remains popular today, with both antique examples and new production continuing to appeal to those who appreciate honest craftsmanship and timeless, minimalist design.
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