The newest and cherished item in our home. Her name is Mora and will always be referred to as a lady in our home. The whole house has been transformed for this beauty.
A little history on her. She is a Swedish Mora clock. The tradition and history behind these clocks may be why I love her so much.
When I visited Sweden, I learned a little about the history of the county. The northern part of Sweden went through a difficult time in the 1700's. The soil was not able to produce food and many of the people were starving and literally fighting to make ends meet. In order to keep their families alive they went to the southern part of Sweden to make money. Many of them learned new traits and brought them back to the northern part of Sweden. One of those traits being clocking making.
Ander Anderson was one that took off with the Swedish Mora clock. He put his initials A.A.S on the face of the clocks. They are the most famous of the Swedish clocks. The face is beautiful. They were hand painted and often worked on by more then one family and then sold to later be put into the beautiful body that we recognize as the Mora clock.
The body is not to be diminished by any means. The Mora clock was a traditional gift given to the bride on her wedding day. The bridal clock is carved with extra detail. The body of the clock is very significant in this tradition. The body of the clock is shaped in a similar fashion as the woman's frame. She is delicate feminine. The crown that many of the clocks wear symbolize the bridal veil that the bride will wear as well.
The clock bodies range in different styles and paintings. The very common style that many of us know as the Mora clock is the body that was made in the town of Mora, Sweden. Depending on the area that the clock was made the shape and style will change. In the article that I was given by the lovely lady I bought my clock from, she wrote there were 4 different styles. (https://www.facebook.com/vintageinspirationsramstein )Those being. Country, Fryksdall, bridal and city.
Country was typically plain and wood. They are not as detailed oriented. They were plain in their carvings and used little to no glass for the face or in the pendulum. These were also ones that display the folk traditional painting.
Fryksdall body would be exaggerated bellies, and hood crown. The colors are typically whites, cremes and found in the homes of aristocracy.
Bridal/ City these clocks are the rarest with the finest painting and carvings. They are the uppity, uppity clocks of the Mora culture.
What do you think of this beauty? What style is she?
I love that these clocks were given as a bridal gifts to be cherished. They are family treasures to pass down for the next generation to love and adore. When I look at Mora I wonder what her story is and how being in our lives will contribute to that story. Where did she come from? Was she given as a bridal gift? I like to think so. There is a special connection you get when you take the time to study these beautiful clocks history.
As a clock owner I must warn any new seekers when you search for your special Mora. As much as you think you know what style you want, she will pick you.
Enjoy!
