Tracing its origin back to the 18th century, cuckoo clock has been one of the most loved souvenirs for decades. History is filled with stories of how the Cuckoo clock was popularized in Germany, and its journey to the various parts of the world.
Right now, several designs attributed to different cultures from different countries have entered the souvenir market.
Let’s take a look at the cuckoo clocks from
different parts of the world
- Cuckoo clocks from Switzerland (The Swiss ‘Chalet’)
Swiss people are often known for their profound culture and their historical craftsmanship. At the end of the 19th century, Switzerland popularized its new contribution to the cuckoo clock innovation as a national relic and a cultural icon.
That’s right, a cultural icon.
The Swiss Chalet was one of a kind!
It had added features like– the resemblance to the cuckoo bird among other structural automata.
Still today,
…the people around the world identify the cuckoo clock with the Swiss.
What really makes the Swiss Chalet unique?
Obtaining their names from the kind of the traditional house used, there are three basic types of the Swiss Cuckoo clocks.
- Black forest chalet
- Swiss chalet (Emmental and Brienz)
- Bavarian Chalet
Besides the common projecting bird, the Swiss clock can take on animated figurines such as woodcutters, turning water wills, and moving beer drinkers. Other traditional cuckoo clocks can even feature a dancing figurine and a music box.
It’s no wonder “the Swiss cuckoo clocks are considered unique and of high aesthetic value than those from other countries.”
Research has shown that most tourists prefer the traditional Chalets since they signify the perfect cultural setting as well as incorporating several other aesthetic ideas.
In fact, most people from the West still think that Switzerland is the origin of the famous cuckoo clocks.
Unlike the cheap cuckoo clocks from countries like China, the Swiss Chalet is quite expensive. Obviously, quality attracts price.
Actually, it may surprise you that some Swiss chalet clocks may be a bit too expensive. While the quality is very high—keep in mind—so is the price. You can get one from Amazon or eBay.
2. Cuckoo clocks from China
China is known for its strong cultural heritage. The Chinese people take pride in the fact that they have upheld their culture through generations. In China, even in the most modern places, you can still find several unique cultural structures, buildings, and other souvenirs.
China is known for its strong cultural heritage. The Chinese people take pride in the fact that they have upheld their culture through generations. In China, even in the most modern places, you can still find several unique cultural structures, buildings, and other souvenirs.
Chinese are known to treat their traditions and culture with much adoration, but they are quite inflexible in adopting someone else’s.
The ideas used to make the cuckoo clocks in China are adopted from other parts of the world.
So that means, creativity and innovation are not so common in the cuckoo clock-making industry. The modesty and the traditional meaning of a cuckoo clock lose its value.
This doesn’t, however, mean that you can’t get a quality cuckoo clock in China, instead, for a typical kind, China is not the best option.
As far as prices go, Chinese Cuckoo clocks are relatively cheaper than most from the other countries.
But a cheaper price means a cheaper clock.
You will most likely find several clocks that are either plastic or less quality wood. If you need a typical and quality clock for you souvenir, other countries like Germany and Switzerland could be better options. You can, however, find the Chinese cuckoo clocks in online stores like the eBay and Alibaba.
- The Japanese Cuckoo clocks
Japan is another cultural country with a relatively fast rate of modernization. The espousal of the modern ideas in almost all aspects of life might soon denature the firmness of the cultural traditions.
But here’s the deal with Japanese cuckoo clocks:
As with China, Japan is a secondary recipient of the cuckoo clock skills and ideas. The Japanese have primarily adopted the modern form of the Cuckoo clock.
In short, the primary idea in Japan is NOT the clock as an heirloom or a symbol of cultural heritage,
..instead,
..it is a tool that shows time and improves home decor. That is why you can find different designs based on things like trees, some animals, etc.
Consider this:
Since they are based on the modern types and ideas– Japanese cuckoo clocks are often made of wood, plastics or any other material. They are more expensive than the Chinese types—but still inferior in craftsmanship to the German and Swiss.
- Cuckoo clocks from Korea
The Korean cuckoo clock takes different designs and styles. They take different forms such as trees, houses, birds and other figurines. They resemble the original Swiss or German cuckoo clock.
Hold on—looks aren’t everything. What’s inside counts too!
One common feature among these clocks is that they operate through quartz movement and are battery powered. German and Swiss clocks are all mechanical movement.
But the Korean clockmakers are trying to match the aesthetics. Like the European clocks, they are made from wood, Korean wood.
This is what makes them quite unique and more quality than those from China and Japan.
The typical idea of the cuckoo clock is quite preserved with the Korean clocks. The different types include the traditional cuckoo clock, the chalet, and the musical dancing dolls cuckoo clock.
Credited to|:https://cuckooforest.com/
