See more objects with the tag timekeeping, luxury, chinoiserie, craftsmanship.

Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

1925

  • Work on this object began.

1935

  • Work on this object ended.

2017

2025

  • You found it!

Clock, Lotus and Koi Pond

This is a clock.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Anonymous as part of The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.

It is dated ca. 1930. Its medium is rock crystal, mother-of-pearl, abalone, gold, hardstone, coral, jade, diamonds, onyx.

These clocks were almost certainly created in Paris around 1930 for Black, Starr & Frost in New York. However, the firm’s commissioning of them may have been too close to the Crash of 1929 to ensure strong sales. They remained objects of admiration when examples appeared as part of a group of clocks in the firm’s display at the 1939 world’s fair in New York. This clock, titled Koi Pond, suggests Cartier’s Turtle and Fish clocks, some of which actually used water to convey the pond. Others used rock crystal, seen here mixed with hardstones that mosaicist Vladimir Makovsky favored for his box tops and clocks.

It is credited Siegelson, New York.

  • Sidewall (France)
  • paper, distemper colors.
  • Gift of Grace Lincoln Temple.
  • 1938-62-68
  • Chinoiserie Clock
  • mother-of-pearl, lapis lazuli, nephrite, abalone, diamonds, platinum,....
  • Lent by Siegelson, New York.
  • 61.2016.4
  • Tree of Knowledge Clock
  • mother-of-pearl, diamonds, enamel, malachite, lapis lazuli, rock crystal,....
  • Lent by Siegelson, New York.
  • 61.2016.7

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

  • Compact, Koi and Dragon
  • carved jadeite, cabochon sapphires, enamel, carved coral, diamonds, mirrored....
  • Lent by Private Collection.
  • 13.2016.33
  • Mystery Clock
  • rock crystal, diamonds, mother-of-pearl, lapis lazuli, gold, turquoise, onyx,....
  • Lent by Siegelson, New York.
  • 61.2016.8

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 7.1 × 7.1 × 5.1 cm (2 13/16 in. × 2 13/16 in. × 2 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/907214223/ |title=Clock, Lotus and Koi Pond |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=10 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>