Sunday, October 10, 2010

Mosaic Monday: Adamantine Mantel Clock



I'm showing you something that has been a fixture in my life for many years -- the Seth Thomas Adamantine mantel clock that belonged to my grandfather. I was quite young when my grandfather died, and my mother inherited the clock. It has sat on our mantel ever since.

It does not run now, but I remember it chiming the hours when I was little. It had quite a loud tick-tocking sound, too. I can remember my father winding it every week or so.

Adamantine is a type of celluloid veneer that was used to mimic the marble and onyx of the more expensive French mantel clocks of the late nineteenth century. Seth Thomas began making these adamantine black mantel clocks in 1882 for the American market, which wanted the look of the more expensive clocks but shied at the price. They were very popular from 1882 through 1911. If you are interested in finding one, there are a few on ebay, including one that is exactly the same model, here. If you are interested in a short history of Seth Thomas clocks, you can find it here.

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.
That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.

60 comments:

  1. Yipee! I was just looking at your picture from yesterday's post and thinking that I'd love to see ever detail of that room! Thank you...and MORE! ;}

    m ^..^

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  2. That is a stunning mosaic! I love the lighting. Great job.

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  3. what a beautiful clock!

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  4. Beautiful clock and such wonderful memories for you. Our mantle clock is the *doctors office*. We decided to take the plunge and see if it could be fixed. Time will tell!

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  5. That clock is gorgeous! And the mosaic is beautiful. All the warm colors in your room is so rich and welcoming!

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  6. Beautiful clock~ love the history & memories associated with it.

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  7. How beautiful! I know you treasure your wonderful clock! Lovely mosaic! Happy Fall! ♥

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  8. Beautiful clock, Mary. Ornate styling that looks lovely on your mantle. So special that it has been in your family for so long.

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  9. What a wonderful mosaic of beautiful things...the clock...is just gorgeous!

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  10. Very stunning mosaic! My brother passed down an antique mantel clock to me. I would love to run it but it is so loud!!!!

    Thanks for hosting Mosaic Monday. I love doing mosaics!

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  11. Lovely post featuring a piece of history in your family Mary. I like how you've shown the details and the entire clock.
    Judith

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  12. That is a beautiful clock and, for once, I am looking at the subject of the mosaic and not focusing on the mosaic as such. Now I'll have to go back and pay better attention. As one who recently received "the family clock," I am particularly charmed by this.

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  13. Beautiful clock and interesting mosaic. thanks for having us join you.

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  14. Beautiful mosaic and clock. I have great memories of my Great Grandfathers clock and it now hangs in my parents home. It doesn't chime any more, although I can remember perfectly what it use to sound like. Thanks for the reminder of some wonderful memories.
    Wendy

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  15. Gorgeous clock on a stunning mantle! Just beautiful!

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  16. Hi Mary: We have several old clocks around here that do not work either. I have never looked up their history but I should. Lovely clock mosaic.

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  17. wonderful old clock. Perfectly placed.
    great mosaic subject and well done.

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  18. What a pretty clock! Thanks for sharing it with us in a pretty mosaic.
    Thanks for hosting again this week.
    Have a great week.

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  19. Mary- I have a very similar clock! Inherited from Great Gran and passed down to Me! (eventually!)I stuck the hour, half and chimed @ certain hours too. Our clock worked for many years until it sat in a uninhabited house for a few years and the coils in the back decomposed. There is a man who repairs clocks @ The Golden Nugget Flea Market(inside shop)near Lambertville looked @ mine and said it would cost $100. to fix it. I am going to take it to him soon. If you are interested I will send you more specific info. Bramble
    PS..I never knew the covering was called adamantine, I just thought it was "prehistoric contact paper" of some sort!!!!

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  20. My grandmother had a ST clock. Don't know what happened to it. It is so beautiful setting on your mantle. Wonderful info and photos.
    QMM

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  21. What a neat idea for a mosaic. I love your clock Mary. Always wanted a mantle clock, now I have a hugh Grandfather clock. Have a wonderful week.

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  22. Your mantel clock is a true treasure. How wonderful that you inherited this one. I love the sound of a clock ticking and chiming in a room.
    Thanks for hosting Mosaic Monday. ~ Sarah

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  23. Oh Mary, what a gorgeous clock,and having the providence of it...priceless.
    I'm a real sucker for clocks...
    Thanks for all you do.
    glenda

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  24. The columns on your clock are beautiful architecture!!! I loved the info...never knew much about mantle clocks...Now I know a little bit!!

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  25. It is a beautiful clock, Mary, and even more so because of who it belonged to and all the memories associated with it. Treasure it always!

    ♥Pat

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  26. What a beautiful family keepsake! The acorn and leaf relief are beautiful.

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  27. I love your pretty clock, Mary.
    I, too, have one that belonged to my mother's aunt. It is a beautiful clock and works like a charm. Beautiful chimes...and I have to wind it daily.
    I need to blog about it, too. :))
    Love how we inspire each other in this wonderful land of Blog.

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  28. Just beautiful. I love the presentation, and warm color cast. I can feel the love, and memories. Well done.

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  29. we have a similar one that my mom loved.

    beautiful piece.

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  30. Hi I am a huge fan of clocks and love your mosaic it's beautiful.

    please forgive my mistake on my first link up I hope everyone can still find me on my second.

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  31. Hi Mary -- that clock is wonderful and the mosaic is so well done. We had a Seth Thomas clock almost like that (inherited) -- now I visit it when I go to visit my daughter (since we are travelers, I have given away all of our family pieces).

    I have no mosaic this week, but always visit you to learn more about how to do it!

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  32. thankyou again for Mosaic Monday. One of these days I will learn how to make an actual mosaic! It is wonderful to connect with others around the world.
    My father has an old clock which didn't work for years, he had it repaired, and now it chimes the half and hours.

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  33. That's a very handsome clock on a very handsome mantelpiece.

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  34. It is a wonderful clock and it sits beautifully on your mantelpiece in that delightful room. Thank you for telling us about the family history and about the clock.Thank you for hosting Mosaic Monday, have a good week, Jackie in Surrey, UK.

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  35. What a pretty clock. I'd never heard of that type of finish - very elegant. Lovely to have something with family history.

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  36. The clock is beautiful! I love the corinthian columns on it and it looks really nice on your mantel.....Christine

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  37. Very beautiful Seth Thomas. Thanks for the info on Adamantne. I didn't know about it. MB

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  38. Hi Mary!
    What a lovely clock!
    I will show you some views and automne themes from my part of the world, and something done with apples...
    Have a nice Monday, and a Happy week!
    best wishes,
    AnnA

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  39. Mary, it is a beautiful clock and has some wonderful memories for you. Thanks for the info and links.

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  40. That is a lovely clock. This week I'm sharing some Fall colours.

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  41. What a gorgeous clock! Your photos are just awesome!

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  42. Good Morning, Mary! What a wonderful post you have today for Mosaic Monday. I love it when people post about their family heirlooms and give some of the history behind it. Thank you so much for sharing. The clock is just beautiful. I love all the detail in it, and the columns on the sides just add so much character to it. The colors are gorgeous.

    I'm happy to be joining Mosaic Monday with you today.

    I hope you have a lovely Monday,
    Susan
    http://clucklebees.blogspot.com/

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  43. Oh, Mary, I was trying to visit Diann at Thrifty Groove's link, but it goes to a place called Style House instead. I'm not sure what's going on with that, but it's an incorrect link.
    Just wanted to tell you,
    SUsan

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  44. I just love old clocks and I do remember my grandfather having one that did that tick-tock all through the day and night! I am not sure I would like that but the clock itself was beautiful! Thanks for showing that wonderful old piece!
    Tina xo

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  45. What a shame your clock no longer ticks or chimes. I love clocks with a loud, distinctive tick....so comforting.

    Thanks for hosting another Mosaic Monday, Mary. :)

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  46. Beautiful mosaic Mary. Your clock and mantel are gorgeous!

    I am a tad late. Just finished publishing a post at a little after 9 AM. We were having fun, at a punkin' patch with g'kids and traveling yesterday.

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  47. GORGEOUS CLOCK.
    And that it has been passed down to you makes it all the more wonderful.
    Of course I had to check out the Ebay listing. :-)
    Cass

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  48. Your clock is very interesting and beautiful and it made such an outstanding mosaic. Wonderful!

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  49. What a wonderful memory!
    Does your ceiling have polka dots?
    smiles...

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  50. Fabulous! These are treasures to be cherished. It really does bring a lump to my throat!

    Deb
    teaandphotos

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  51. Ellen, my ceiling is wallpapered with an old Laura Ashley rosebud paper... :)

    Thanks, everyone!

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  52. Just lovely Mary...my Dad would have loved that clock ;) Thanks once again for hosting Mosaic Monday and hope you have a wonderful week, fondly, Roberta

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  53. Your clock is so beautiful...it looks lovely where you have it. A beautiful mosaic...super photos.
    Genie

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  54. Mary the clock is so beautiful! It's nice to have things in your home that evoke wonderful memories!

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  55. The best of posessions are those with connections to loved ones. Your home is so beautiful and comfortable looking...

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I love to hear what you have to say!