A mystery clock is a type of clock that appears to have its hands or other components moving in a way that is not immediately apparent. The design of a mystery clock usually includes a clear glass or crystal case that houses the clock movement and mechanism, but does not reveal how the hands are driven or what makes the clock run.

Mystery clocks were first introduced by the French clockmaker, Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, in the mid-19th century. The clocks were designed to incorporate a clever mechanism that used transparent discs, mirrors, or other optical illusions to create the appearance that the hands of the clock were floating in mid-air, or were suspended from some unseen force.

The intricate workings of a mystery clock make them highly prized by collectors and enthusiasts of horology (the study of timekeeping and clocks). Some of the most famous makers of more...

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Mystery Clock 'Fruit Boy', 20th century, 40 cm high

Mystery Clock 'Fruit Boy', 20th century, 40 cm high

A bronzed spelter mystery clock with Junghams movement, height…

A bronzed spelter mystery clock with Junghams movement, height 40 cm

Victorian spelter mystery clock, enamel faced with ribbon and…

Victorian spelter mystery clock, enamel faced with ribbon and foliate design with base modelled as young onion seller peddling dressed in tattered garb, height 38 cm

Late 19th century bronzed elephant mystery clock, on wooden…

Late 19th century bronzed elephant mystery clock, on wooden base the gilt brass pendulum with white enamel dial

A Junghans spelter mystery clock in the form of a fruit seller,…

A Junghans spelter mystery clock in the form of a fruit seller, 29 cm high

A spelter kangaroo mystery clock, German, circa 1900, A…

Spelter Kangaroo Mystery Clock, German, Circa 1900

A spelter kangaroo mystery clock, German, circa 1900, A Junghans- type mystery clock with a gilt metal swinging timepiece, 27 cm high

Vintage brass mystery clock, white painted numerals, ticking

Antique Ticking Mystery Clock with White Numerals

Vintage brass mystery clock, white painted numerals, ticking

Mystery clock base, bronzed cast metal elephant with raised…

Bronzed Elephant Clock Base on Wooden Plinth

Mystery clock base, bronzed cast metal elephant with raised trunk, on wooden plinth, 19th/20th century, 22 cm high, 22 cm long

An Art Nouveau spelter mystery clock, probably Junghans, circa…

Art Nouveau Maiden Mystery Clock

An Art Nouveau spelter mystery clock, probably Junghans, circa 1900, the Art Nouveau maiden in a diaphanous gown and loosely coiffed hair with a laurel wreath in her hands, raised on a circular socle and wooden stand, her left hand supporting the eight…

Diana mystery clock, cast metal statue on ebonized wooden…

Diana Swinging Timepiece on Wooden Plinth

Diana mystery clock, cast metal statue on ebonized wooden plinth with 8 day swinging timepiece, late 20th century, 34 cm high

Kangaroo mystery clock, late 20th century, 24 cm high

Kangaroo Mystery Clock, 20th Century

Kangaroo mystery clock, late 20th century, 24 cm high

A painted spelter mystery clock, marked 'Jb', height 61 cm

Jb Mystery Clock: Painted Spelter, 61cm Height

A painted spelter mystery clock, marked 'Jb', height 61 cm

A pewter mystery clock, marked 'AH', height 39 cm

Pewter Mystery Clock by AH - 39cm Tall

A pewter mystery clock, marked 'AH', height 39 cm

A spelter mystery clock on alabaster base, height 75 cm,…

Spelter Mystery Clock on Alabaster Base with Keys

A spelter mystery clock on alabaster base, height 75 cm, untested comes with keys

Junghans' Onion Boy' swinging mystery clock in working order,…

Swinging Onion Boy Mystery Clock by Junghans

Junghans' Onion Boy' swinging mystery clock in working order, height 39 cm.

A elephant swinger mystery clock, German, early 20th century,…

Elephant Mystery Clock

A elephant swinger mystery clock, German, early 20th century, in the manner of Junghans, the elephant in cast spelter standing on a wooden stand, the original gilt metal swinger with Arabic dial, unmarked, 25 cm high

Junghans mystery clock, Art Nouveau inspired in the form of a…

Art Nouveau Lady Mystery Clock

Junghans mystery clock, Art Nouveau inspired in the form of a beautiful lady with flowing dress and rose detail, spelter and brass finish on wooden base

Bronzed metal kangaroo mystery clock, c. 1900, the standing…

Bronzed Kangaroo Mystery Clock with Gilt Pendulum

Bronzed metal kangaroo mystery clock, c. 1900, the standing macropod with a giltmetal timepiece-pendulum in his mouth, on an ebonised plinth, restored, height 31 cm width 25.5 cm. Provenance: The collection of Robert Hutchinson, Sydney, labels:…

Kangaroo mystery clock with 8 day swinging pendulum movement…

Kangaroo Enamel Pendulum Clock on Ebonized Plinth

Kangaroo mystery clock with 8 day swinging pendulum movement and enamel dial with Arabic numerals, standing on an ebonized timber plinth, early 20th century. a??29 cm high.

Late 19th century Junghans 'Fruit Seller' mystery clock,…

Junghans 'Fruit Seller' Mystery Clock

Late 19th century Junghans 'Fruit Seller' mystery clock, bronzed spelter, the 8-day gilded brass cased timepiece, with white enamel dial, held aloft by an urchin boy. Height 40 cm. Provenance: The estate collection of Prof. G. Dawson

A gilt bronze maiden wall mystery clock mount, height 43 cm

Bronze Maiden Wall Clock Mount - 43cm Height

A gilt bronze maiden wall mystery clock mount, height 43 cm

Antique Junghans elephant form mystery clock the clock…

Junghans Elephant Mystery Clock

Antique Junghans elephant form mystery clock the clock suspended from the elephants trunk, height 29 cm x width 22 cm

Late 19th century Junghans 'Bat Boy 'mystery clock, bronzed…

Junghans Bat Boy Mystery Clock

Late 19th century Junghans 'Bat Boy 'mystery clock, bronzed spelter, the white enamel dial with Arabic numerals, the 8-day gilded brass cased time piece supported on a bar held aloft by the boy with bat to his right hand, height 44 cm.

Late 19th century Junghans 'Bat Boy' mystery clock, gilded…

Junghans Bat Boy Mystery Clock

Late 19th century Junghans 'Bat Boy' mystery clock, gilded spelter, the white enamel dial with makers marks for the maker, the 8-day brass cased time piece supported on a bar held aloft by the boy. Old professional repair to arm. Height 45 cm.

A dancing nymph mystery clock by Junghans, German, early 20th…

Nymph Mystery Clock by Junghans

A dancing nymph mystery clock by Junghans, German, early 20th century, the patinated spelter figure mounted on a varnished wood base, 42 cm high

An onion seller mystery clock by Junghans, German, early 20th…

Junghans Onion Seller Mystery Clock

An onion seller mystery clock by Junghans, German, early 20th century, the patinated spelter figure mounted on an ebonised wood base, 39.5 cm high

A bronzed spelter mystery clock after Auguste Moreau, late 19th…

Spring Goddess Clock

A bronzed spelter mystery clock after Auguste Moreau, late 19th century, the flower wreathed personification of spring holding a pendulum and sphere with dial of Roman numerals, standing on a red marble plinth titled 'Fleurs de Printemps'. Height 81 cm

French figural conical pendulum mystery clock c1890, the figure…

Figural Ceres Mystery Clock with Conical Pendulum

French figural conical pendulum mystery clock c1890, the figure Ceres goddess of Agriculture holding a small harvest in her right hand and the clock suspended from her left on three chains, 53.5 cm height

'The Huntress' antique swinging mystery clock, gilt metal and…

"The Huntress" Swinging Mystery Clock - Late 19th Century

'The Huntress' antique swinging mystery clock, gilt metal and spelter, late 19th century, 76 cm high

A 19th century spelter bronze Diana figured conical pendulum…

Diana Mystery Clock with Blue Enamel Spherical Globe

A 19th century spelter bronze Diana figured conical pendulum mystery clock, the goddess Diana with her bow and a quiver of arrows stands with her right arm raised and holding an ormolu bracket from which is suspended on three chains a blue enamel…

A spelter kangaroo mystery clock, the standing macropod with a…

Spelter Kangaroo Mystery Clock with Giltmetal Pendulum

A spelter kangaroo mystery clock, the standing macropod with a giltmetal timepiece/pendulum in his mouth, on an ebonised plinth, height 31 cm

Cast metal puppy dog mystery clock, marked 'T.H.' to face, with…

T.H. Puppy Mystery Clock with Roman Numerals

Cast metal puppy dog mystery clock, marked 'T.H.' to face, with rounded glass and Roman numerals appears to be in working condition

A Japanese mystery clock on cast metal elephant base, 8 day…

Japanese Elephant Mystery Clock, Circa 1950

A Japanese mystery clock on cast metal elephant base, 8 day movement, circa 1950, 29 cm high

A mystery clock, cast metal with bird finial, 20th century, 40.…

Metal Bird Mystery Clock, 20th Century

A mystery clock, cast metal with bird finial, 20th century, 40.5 cm high

An Art Nouveau spelter 'Diana' mystery clock, circa 1900,…

Art Nouveau Diana Mystery Clock

An Art Nouveau spelter 'Diana' mystery clock, circa 1900, probably by Junghans, an Art Nouveau maiden in a diaphanous gown and loosely coiffed hair raised on a rose embellished foot and ebonised stand, her right hand supporting the eight day brass cased…

Edwardian mystery clock, in the form of an elephant with its…

Elephant Mystery Clock

Edwardian mystery clock, in the form of an elephant with its trunk raised in the air suspending a clock, on oval wooden base, height 26 cm

Hector mystery clock, gilt metal statue with Junghans timepiece,…

Hector Junghans Mystery Clock with Gilt Metal Statue

Hector mystery clock, gilt metal statue with Junghans timepiece, Germany, late 19th century, faux rouge marble base, 52 cm high

Onion boy mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early…

Junghans Onion Boy Clock

Onion boy mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th century, 8 day brass cased time piece, white metal statue standing a wooden base, 40 cm high

Onion boy mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early…

Junghans Onion Boy Mystery Clock

Onion boy mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th century, 8 day brass cased time piece, white metal statue standing on ebonized wooden base, 40 cm high

Onion boy mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early…

Junghans Onion Boy Mystery Clock

Onion boy mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th century, 8 day brass cased time piece, white metal statue standing on ebonized wooden base, 40 cm high

Diana mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th…

Junghans Diana Mystery Clock with Gilt Statue on Lion

Diana mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th century, 8 day brass cased time piece, gilt finished metal statue standing on a lion, most likely later plinth and finish, ?42 cm high

Diana mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th…

Junghans Diana Mystery Clock

Diana mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th century, 8 day brass cased time piece, bronze finished statue on ebonized metal plinth, 34.5 cm high

Diana mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th…

Junghans Diana Mystery Clock

Diana mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th century, 8 day brass cased time piece, gilt metal statue on green finished plinth, 34 cm high

Bat boy mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th…

Junghans Bat Boy Mystery Clock

Bat boy mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th century, 8 day brass cased time piece supported on a bronze figure of a boy, 45 cm high

Bat boy mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th…

Junghans Bat Boy Mystery Clock

Bat boy mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th century, 8 day brass cased time piece supported on a bronze figure of a boy, 45 cm high

Bat boy mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th…

Junghans Bat Boy Mystery Clock

Bat boy mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th century, 8 day brass cased time piece supported on a gilt bronze figure of a boy, 45 cm high

Kangaroo mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early…

Kangaroo Mystery Clock

Kangaroo mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th century, 8 day brass cased time piece supported on a bronze kangaroo figure mounted on timber base, 31 cm high

Elephant mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early…

Bronze Elephant Clock by Junghans

Elephant mystery clock by Junghans, German, late 19th early 20th century, 8 day movement supported on bronze finished elephant statue standing on wooden base, 28 cm high

La Mysterieuse by the Hamberg American Clock Co. Mystery clock,…

Mysterieuse Clock: Hamburg American, 1912, 25cm

La Mysterieuse by the Hamberg American Clock Co. Mystery clock, circa 1912, 25 cm high

Lovely elephant mystery clock, the suspended dial and pendulum…

Elephant Mystery Clock

Lovely elephant mystery clock, the suspended dial and pendulum set with Roman numerals, hanging from the trunk of an elephant on wooden base, height 28 cm

An elephant mystery clock, late 19th century, probably German…

Bronze Elephant Mystery Clock, 19th Century

An elephant mystery clock, late 19th century, probably German in the manner of Junghans, the spelter bronze tone elephant with a raised trunk supporting the dial and pendulum above an oval wooden base, height 28.5 cm, width 25 cm

French 19th century Guilmet mystery clock (swinger) formed as a…

Guilmet Maiden Mystery Clock with Sphere and Gridiron Rods

French 19th century Guilmet mystery clock (swinger) formed as a maiden stood on marble base (marked La Fortune) holding aloft a sphere cased timepiece with gridiron type rods below. Maker Guilmet (marked internally).

A German elephant mystery clock, Junghans, late 19th century,…

Elephant Mystery Clock by Junghans

A German elephant mystery clock, Junghans, late 19th century, the elephant raising it's trunk to support the dial and pendulum. The elephant standing on an oval wooden base, 29 cm high, 25 cm wide, 10 cm deep

A French conical pendulum mystery clock, Eugene Cornu, Paris,…

French Mystery Clock with Angel and Enamel Inlays

A French conical pendulum mystery clock, Eugene Cornu, Paris, circa 1875, the classically draped silvered bronze angel raising both hands to support the pendulum, bearing a bouquet of gilt flowers aloft. The angel stands on a gilt bronze bed of clouds,…

A 19th century figured mystery clock, the bronzed young boy…

Bronze Fruit Seller Mystery Clock

A 19th century figured mystery clock, the bronzed young boy fruit seller modelled with open mouth as if calling attention to his fruit, his clothes ripped and torn, his right hand supporting the traditional gilt framed clock, the ebonised base with silver…

A mystery clock with kangaroo motif. c1900's

Kangaroo Mystery Clock

A mystery clock with kangaroo motif. c1900's

An Edwardian spelter mystery clock, in the form of a Greek…

Greek Maiden Mystery Clock

An Edwardian spelter mystery clock, in the form of a Greek maiden, her hand holding the clock (requires minor attention for the clock to hang). Height 30 cm

Junghans mystery clock, with swing pendulum and face, in white,…

Swinging Lady Mystery Clock

Junghans mystery clock, with swing pendulum and face, in white, with Arabic numerals, supported by lady in robes, on pedestal base, height 29 cm

Gilt Meiko 8 day mystery clock, in the form of a maiden, height…

Meiko Maiden: Enigmatic 8-Day Mystery Clock

Gilt Meiko 8 day mystery clock, in the form of a maiden, height 30 cm

Late 19th century figural mystery clock, signed to base

Figural Mystery Clock from Late 19th Century

Late 19th century figural mystery clock, signed to base

A 19th century French mystery clock, with spelter elephant on…

French Elephant Mystery Clock with Gilt Pendulum

A 19th century French mystery clock, with spelter elephant on wooden stand supporting an ornate gilt comptoise clock pendulum. Height 28 cm

An elephant 'mystery clock', the bronzed spelter elephant on…

Bronzed Elephant Mystery Clock

An elephant 'mystery clock', the bronzed spelter elephant on oak plinth base supports the clock mechanism from its raised trunk, slight faults to enamel dial

An early 20th century Junghams type elephant mystery clock, the…

Bronzed Elephant Mystery Clock with Gilt Pendulum

An early 20th century Junghams type elephant mystery clock, the bronzed spelter elephant with trunk raised supporting the brass and gilt metal pendulum, the circular dial with Arabic numerals, ribbon bow and floral highlights, adjustable base, working…

Swiss silver-gilt enamel and mystery clock, a very rare novelty…

Swiss Enamel Mystery Clock by Plojoux

Swiss silver-gilt enamel and mystery clock, a very rare novelty clock by Plojoux, Switzerland, Having a gilt-metal movement, within a horizontal annular enameled silver-gilt dial with mirrored center, surmounted by a carved ivory putto on a gilt metal…

A French large bronze-patinated spelter, gilt and painted brass…

Winged Trumpeter Mystery Clock

A French large bronze-patinated spelter, gilt and painted brass striking mystery clock with conical pendulum, circa 1885 modelled as a winged trumpeter, the spherical case with applied chapters, with eight day single barrel time only movement regulated by…

A cast metal kangaroo mystery clock, 19th century, with…

Kangaroo Mystery Clock

A cast metal kangaroo mystery clock, 19th century, with movement by Junghans, in the form of a standing kangaroo upon a metal timber plinth, supporting a gilt bronze clock and integral pendulum from a horseshoe shaped mouthpiece, the clock with Arabic…

A bronze kangaroo mystery clock, Australia, 19th century, 30 cm…

Bronze Kangaroo Mystery Clock from 19th Century Australia

A bronze kangaroo mystery clock, Australia, 19th century, 30 cm high

A patinated brass kangaroo mystery clock, Australian, 19th…

Patinated Brass Kangaroo Mystery Clock - 19th Century

A patinated brass kangaroo mystery clock, Australian, 19th century, 31 cm high

A spelter figural mystery clock, boy with bat 44.5 cm high

Spelter Boy with Bat Figural Mystery Clock

A spelter figural mystery clock, boy with bat 44.5 cm high

A large French spelter mystery clock, cherub total height 66 cm

French Cherub Mystery Clock - 66 cm Height

A large French spelter mystery clock, cherub total height 66 cm

A German spelter figural mystery clock, boy with Oranges 40 cm…

German Boy with Oranges Spelter Mystery Clock

A German spelter figural mystery clock, boy with Oranges 40 cm high

Art Nouveau mystery clock modelled as a classical lady, on a…

Classical Lady Art Nouveau Mystery Clock

Art Nouveau mystery clock modelled as a classical lady, on a timber base. Height 34 cm

A 19th century bronzed spelter mystery clock with fruit seller…

Bronzed Spelter Mystery Clock with Fruit Seller Figure

A 19th century bronzed spelter mystery clock with fruit seller figure holding aloft the pendulum clock in gilt metal finish. Ebonised circular wooden stand. Height 39 cm

A 19th century spelter mystery clock a young girl held aloft a…

Spelter Mystery Clock with Plumb Bob Pendulum

A 19th century spelter mystery clock a young girl held aloft a sphere with plumb bob pendulum. Laquered base. Height 68 cm