Pirondini is an Italian brand that has been producing clocks, wooden objects and furnishing accessories for over 40 years. All of their products are crafted in Italy, 100% by Pirondini themselves using traditional tools and artisan techniques, as well as modern tools to ensure precision. Pirondini describes their work in four words, crafts, art, wood, design. Let’s get into it.
What does Pirondini Specialize In and What’s Their Story?
One of The First To Reinvent the Cuckoo Clock
Pirondini Italia was one of the first Italian companies to reinterpret the traditional Black Forest cuckoo clock in a modern way. This idea was originally conceived at the beginning of the 90’s with a collection of clocks that, even today, are constantly renewed and manufactured. The traditional, German and Swiss black forest cuckoo clocks only fit a certain style of home with their large and complex designs and often dark wooden tones. Pirondini took the existing popularity of the traditional cuckoo clock and brought a modern and Italian flare to the design, effectively rekindling the cuckoo clocks back to life at the turn of the 21st century.
A Brief History of Pirondini
In the 1980’s Pirondini Italia, started making their way with fine bowls, containers, kitchen accessories and objects for the table. They realized the decorative potential they could derive from layering dyed, thin colored wooden sheets to form solid wood structures. This method helped them master woodworking and the colorful effects of dyes, stains and paints on wood which are original and unique with each object made.
At the beginning of the 90s, with the collaboration of Maurizio Duranti, Pirondini Italia created the "Progetti Piccant" pepper grinder collection. To design them they called some of the greatest Italian designers of those years including, Riccardo Dalisi, Luca Scacchetti, Adolfo Natalini, Ugo La Pietra, Lapo Binazzi, Maurizio Duranti, Carla Venosta. This allowed for Pirondini to gather even more talent and notoriety as they pushed on as a company.
Once woodworking, coloring and dye work and complex manufacturing was mastered, the company pushed into fine clockmaking. They began with the YET YET YET collection, conceived by Giovanni Pirondini and curated by Nanda Vigo. This collection is an overview of the trends of Italian art in the mid 90’s . The clocks were designed by some of the leading Italian artists including Spoldi, Lodola, Tadini, Comencini, and Postal and were made in a limited edition using the inlay technique with veneers of different woods and varieties of briar.
Pirondini’s Cuckoo Clocks Today
Top Tier Qualities of Their Clockwork
Recently, Pirondini has created collections of clocks that produce sounds patented by Pirondini Italia. They combine electronics and digital technologies with bronze bells, specially tuned to mark the passage of time - hours and quarters of an hour - with short musical phrases. This combination results in a wonderful reinterpretation of the classic sound of clocks of yesteryear.
In addition to modern and traditional clock forms, they brand has also created clocks formed from small paintings with thin frames that encloses various quotes and reinterpretations of works of art known to the general public. The clocks can be placed either on a shelf or hung on a wall and are just as functional as anything else you’ll find that tells time, mixing literal framed art with clockwork in a creative fashion.
After revisiting the traditional black forest cuckoos and renewing their design, in 2019, they decided to invest resources and energy to produce a completely innovative timekeeping mechanism as well. The result was a highly reliable and long lasting mechanism with a lower environmental impact, produced at their shops in Italy.
Some of Our Favorite Pirondini Clocks
Pizzo Bernina Cuckoo Clock Found Here
D’Apres Kandinsky Cuckoo Clock Found Here
Gattini Cuckoo Clock Found Here
Available in White and Heather Violet
Titti Cuckoo Clock Found Here
Available in Light blue, Orange, Green & Red
Conclusion
Our general review of the Pirondini Italian clock brand is very positive. Pirondini creates wonderful, Italian made modern cuckoo and wall clocks at an affordable price. Over the years they’ve taken the lead with reinventing traditional clock design and adding new and modern flares that bring excitement and energy to their designs. They’ve redesigned in the internals and externals of their clocks and perfected the woodworking and finishing processes to ensure that your next Pirondini clock lasts for many years to come.
Feel free to reach out to us here at Time For a Clock anytime, as we are here to help. We speak directly with Pirondini’s Italian office and can answer any questions you may have while searching for your next clock. We’re here to help.
Click Here To Shop The Pirondini Clock Collection
Check Out Our Full Review of Modern Cuckoo Clocks Here
