Antique Black Forest Clocks

We always enjoy hearing from our friend J. Miller, whose collection of rare and unusual antique Black Forest clocks continues to surprise even seasoned collectors. His most recent acquisition is an extraordinarily rare 19th-century piece — and to our knowledge, it may be the only surviving example in the world.

This remarkable “Rat-Eater” is an extremely rare variation of a German automaton known as a Dumpling Eater. Traditionally, these whimsical figures consume dumplings or sausages at the strike of the hour. For reasons known only to the clockmaker, this example depicts the figure eating rats instead — a curious and slightly macabre twist that makes the piece unforgettable.

(See more images in our Flickr photostream.)

There is also a fascinating discussion of this clock among collectors and historians.

Follow-up: I thought I would share a bit more about the delicious Rat-Eater owned by our friend and collector J. Miller. The information and material below is drawn from the previously mentioned discussion at the NAWCC forums.

It was, unfortunately, quite common during times of war and siege for soldiers and civilians to resort to eating rats. Accounts from the Franco-Prussian War describe rat sellers in Paris, and one American journalist even recorded recipes while comparing the taste of dog, cat, and rat meat.

Below is a painting of a “Rat Seller” (c.1870).

An American journalist trapped in Paris during the siege of 1870–71 documented the desperate circumstances and unusual foods consumed during the blockade:

Similar accounts describe the consumption of rats in Metz around 1814 during wartime hardship:

While the Rat-Eater is not something one can simply run out and purchase, North Coast Imports is pleased to offer traditional Black Forest automata that eat dumplings and drink beer. Rombach & Haas produces the only original Black Forest clock featuring figures that consume dumplings or sip beer while counting the hour and half hour.