It is said that in the 2nd century BC, the Greek mathematician Ctesibius of Alexandria has made the fist singing clock by using water to sound like a whistle. His clock is considered as the ancestor of the modern cuckoo clocks. In the beginning of 9th century, the caliph of Baghdad, Harun al-Rashid, presented the Emperor of Romans a mechanical clock for which a mechanical bird was announcing the hours.

The first description of a modern cuckoo clock is first written by an Augsburg nobleman, Philipp Hainhofer who was precisely describing a clock that belongs to Augustus, the Elector of Saxony who lived between 1526 and 1586.

In 1650, Athanasius Kircher, a well known musical scholar, described in wording and with pictures of a mechanical organ with several automated figures including a mechanical cuckoo. 19 years later, Domenico Martinelli suggested the use of cuckoo to indicate the hours. Thereafter his suggestion, the cuckoo clocks started to be build in Europe. A few decades later, the people in Black Forest region of the Rhine valley took the art over.

The clock makers in Black Forest have developed both the mechanical and artistic properties of the cuckoo clocks. Since the mid-19th century, the art of cuckoo clock making is associated with Black Forest.

The Black Forest (Schwarzwald in German) region is a mountainous forest in Baden-Wurttemberg of southern Germany. The Rhine valley borders the region on the west and the south. The river Danube rises in Black Forest and the region contains many other small and large rivers. It is the continental divide between the Atlantic drainage basin (Rhine) and the Black Sea basin (Danube).

The forest mostly consists of Pinaceae trees which is the original material used in making of Cuckoo Clocks.

Our clock are coming from Triberg, a town that is famous for its clock maker masters and highest waterfalls in Germany. It has been a cultural and economical center of Black Forest region for decades.

The Herr family has a long tradition of clock making in the Black Forest region. Two brothers, Andreas and Christian were the first generation clock makers who started in the beginning of 19th century. Hubert Herr was the third generation in the family who continued the art. He was a skillful master carver and his talent brought him fame. He expanded his business in a short while. His encouraged his five sons to continue the art after his death. 

Currently Hubert Herr clock-making factory is managed by the 5th generation family members. Hubert Herr is the only manufacturer who makes the carvings and the cases on their own premises. The Hubert Herr hand-carved clocks earned a well-deserved reputation worldwide due to their high quality. Their clocks continue to be the most desired original cuckoo clocks in the world.

Dimensions: 39 x 39 cm (15 x 15 inch)
Figure:  Large Water-Wheel with Moving Miller and Dancers
Material: Pine and linden tree; steel and bronze mechanical parts.

Origin: Black Forest, Germany
Represents: An art object that brings joy, unity and punctuality to a household.
Significance: A long lived Black Forest tradition that combines art and mechanics in an entertaining and punctual clock.

Shipping: 

Ships from Germany via UPS or German National Post Office.
It usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to ship after the order. The shipment price and time may vary depending on the receiver's location. The exact shipping price will be informed to the customer once the product is purchased. For estimated price, please proceed to checkout screen.