Roman
Clock

Objects

1937

Roman Clock

In the Roman clock, Arne Jacobsen translated inspiration from classical and historical works into a modern clock design.

YEAR:

1937

DESIGN:

Arne Jacobsen

Aarhus City Hall. Photo: Yukio Yoshimura.

During the interwar years, Arne Jacobsen designed several Roman numeral clock faces. This classic design exemplifies how Arne Jacobsen found inspiration in classical and historical works and turned them into modern, contemporary designs.

Arne Jacobsen often integrated clock designs in the elaborate total interior designs he composed for his architecture. In 1937, he completed the Stelling House in central Copenhagen, and in 1942, he co-designed no less than two functionalist town halls, Søllerød Town Hall with Flemming Lassen and Aarhus City Hall with Erik Møller. In all these buildings, large clocks with Roman numerals made in exclusive materials greeted people as they entered. Later, when completing Rødovre Town Hall in 1956, Arne Jacobsen installed a clock with Roman numerals in the council hall and on the facade, where it hangs today as the only ornamentation on the strict, minimalist building.

The entrance hall at Aarhus City Hall. Photo: Jens Lindhe.

This classic design exemplifies how Arne Jacobsen found inspiration in classical and historical works and turned them into modern, contemporary designs.

Arne Jacobsen's watercolor of the square at Capri, 1937. Photo: Arne Jacobsen Design.

Arne Jacobsen's study from the 1920s of a clock from the 17th century. Photo: Royal Danish Library - Danish National Art Library.

Studying the world around him was an important element in Arne Jacobsen’s creative process. Pen and brush in hand, he explored the classic architecture he saw on his many trips to France and Italy as well as the diversity of nature and furniture and other objects from antiquity. Several of Arne Jacobsen’s drawings or watercolours reflect his interest in clock faces with Roman numerals, including early drawings of a clock from the 17th century he had in his home and a beautiful watercolour from the city square in Capri in 1937. In Roman, Arne Jacobsen translated this diverse inspiration into a modern clock design.

Sources: Arne Jacobsen Design Archives. / Arne Jacobsen’s drawings. The collection of architectural drawings. The Royal Library – Danish Art Library. / Møller, E. & Lindhe, J. (2016). Aarhus Raadhus. 2. udgave, 1. oplag. Copenhagen: Danish Architectural Press. / Stenum Poulsen, K., Skaarup Larsen, A., & Staunsager, S. (2020). Arne Jacobsen Designing Denmark. Kolding: Trapholt. / Thau, C., & Vindum, K. (1998). Arne Jacobsen. Danish Architectural Press.

The council hall at Rødovre Town Hall. Photo: Arne Jacobsen. Original is found at the Royal Danish Library - Danish National Art Library.

Stellings Farvehandel på Skindergade, 1937

Interior from Stelling House with the clock with roman numerals visible on the back wall, 1937. Photo: Aage Strüwing © Jørgen Strüwing.

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Roman
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In the Roman clock, Arne Jacobsen translated inspiration from classical and historical works into a modern clock design.

This classic design exemplifies how Arne Jacobsen found inspiration in classical and historical works and turned them into modern, contemporary designs.

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