Black Forest traditional carved cuckoo clocks
Leaves, birds with spread wings, hunting scenes: the carved cuckoo clock, also called traditional, frames its dial with motifs cut into the wood. From Hönes mechanical models to Engstler musical quartz clocks, every decoration is carved from wood.
Heir to the 1850 cottage
The carved cuckoo clock descends from the Bahnhäusleuhr, the railway keeper’s cottage designed for the competition launched in 1850 by the Furtwangen clockmaking school. In the 1860s, its facade became covered with relief carvings, and Johann Baptist Beha added carved bone hands and pine-cone-shaped weights. This two-tone wooden cottage still keeps the original silhouette. To learn more, read our article on the history of the cuckoo clock.
Leaves, birds, hunting and flowers
The carvings are most often made from linden wood, then stained, often in a walnut shade. Four main designs make up our selection:
leaves and birds, like this dial with three birds;
nests of chicks, like this carved nest under the dial, where two hand-painted chicks sit;
hunting scenes, with stags, game and oak leaves, like this hunting trophy;
hand-painted flowers, edelweiss and gentians, like this clock with blue gentians.
Torn between this style and a model with animated scenes? Read our tips on choosing between chalet or carved, or browse our chalet cuckoo clocks.
Hönes mechanical or Engstler quartz
At Hönes, the carved cuckoo clock ranges from small 1-day models of 20 cm (8 in), in walnut-stained, natural or color-highlighted wood, to large 8-day pieces. The company logo replaces the number 12 on the dial, and most models are VdS certified.
At Engstler, the carved quartz clocks focus on color and music: hand-painted birds, twelve melodies and, on some models, dancers turning below the cuckoo’s door.
To compare the two movements, see our guide mechanical or quartz, or narrow your search to our battery-operated carved clocks and our mechanical carved clocks.
Choosing and caring for your carved cuckoo clock
In terms of size, our selection ranges from small 20 cm (8 in) cuckoo clocks to 50 cm (20 in) hunting scenes. Allow enough height below the dial for the weights to drop: our guide helps you find the right size.
The reliefs collect dust: a soft brush is all you need to keep them clean, with no chemical products. To move the clock, hold it by the roof or the base, never by the carvings, as stag antlers and the finest leaves are fragile. Our tips on the mistakes that damage it help you avoid them.