Clocks. They represent the many faces of time. And what could be more elegant than these Art Deco clocks seen throughout the  interior of the former Bullocks Wilshire department store. While these six stood out for me,  research indicates that at least 30 of them were  custom made for the many nuanced theme rooms in this cutting edge modernist masterpiece built over 85 years ago.

Yes, 1929 was an entirely different world. A world that didn’t include iphones or apple watches. It was a time when the automobile was the newest and most remarkable invention, along with the idea of air travel. Everything had to be done with great style. It was a bold  new world that celebrated the joyous movement of speed. Remember as a kid how the comic strips made cars look like they were moving fast by drawing a couple of parallel lines behind the bumper? That in essence is what inspired the graphics of this particular era. While the 50’s and 60’s had the boomerang shape to represent the atomic age  and the art nouveau era had its sinewy lines of curling opium smoke to thank for it’s graphic inspirations, the deco era of the 20’s and 30’s was rich with parallel lines representing speed. It translated beautifully to graphics like the clocks above, as well as large scale  design lines on  building exteriors. I’m constantly spotting hidden gems around Los Angeles that go  completely unnoticed, desperately in need of good period paint jobs and some TLC.  Streamline modern is so easy on the eyes because it’s all about scale, balance and simplicity.  A little  one story building can look sleek and magnificent, while something much bigger and spacious can look clunky and heavy.  There was nothing cookie cutter about this era. Everything was a ‘total work of art’ born out of pride of craftsmanship, with an emphasis on beauty.

When I look at these clocks, I become lost in time, quite literally. Studying the curve of each number and the thickness or thinness of each line, I wonder what the artisans sketches and drawings might have looked like with each incarnation. I’m so thrilled that these little masterpieces still exist, and I hope their artistry inspires future generations.