A grandfather clock is a tall, freestanding clock housed in a wooden case, usually between six and eight feet high. The clock stands on the floor like a piece of furniture, with a long body that holds the weights and pendulum that make it work. At the top sits the clock face, often decorated with ornate designs or painted scenes.

These clocks became popular in the late 1600s after a Dutch scientist named Christiaan Huygens invented the pendulum clock, which was far more accurate than earlier timepieces. The long case protected the pendulum and weights, which needed space to swing and descend. Wealthy families displayed grandfather clocks in their homes as both practical timekeepers and symbols of sophistication.

Many grandfather clocks chime on the hour, filling a room with deep, resonant tones. Keeping one running requires winding it regularly, usually once a week, by pulling chains or turning a key to raise the weights. The steady tick-tock of a grandfather clock has marked time in homes for over three centuries.