Standuhr

Standuhren, or standing clocks, are tall, freestanding clocks designed to stand on the floor and housed in long wooden cases. The movement is typically weight-driven and regulated by a pendulum, with the dial visible at the top and the weights inside the case. The term Standuhren is used in German to distinguish this type from wall clocks (Wanduhr) and table clocks (Tischuhr).

The Standuhren emerged in late 17th-century England after the invention of the anchor escapement, which enabled longer pendulums and improved accuracy. The tall case served to protect the weights and to provide a stable housing for the pendulum. The design spread to continental Europe in the 18th century, where it became a common feature in homes and institutions and came to reflect regional decorative styles.

Most Standuhren feature two to three weights, a dial with Roman numerals, and a chiming or striking mechanism on the hour and often on the half hour. Movements are typically based on an anchor escapement, while some later clocks used different escapements adjusted for accuracy and reliability. The cases vary from plain oak or walnut to ornate veneers and carved ornamentation, with styles ranging from Baroque and Rococo to Neoclassical and historicist revivals.

Today Standuhren are valued as antiques and museum pieces. Modern reproductions and hybrid clocks exist, some with quartz or battery-driven movements, but traditional mechanical Standuhren are sought after for craftsmanship and historical interest.