North Coast Imports, Inc.

L'Epee 1839 has done it again. A collaboration was formed between the legendary clockmaker and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. L'Epee presents its masterpieces as a Fantasia on the work of the Dutch visionary.   The opening exhibition of this collection will make its full debut at The Gallery by the Harbour from 6th May, 2016 to 29th May, 2016, approved and endorsed by the curators of the Van Gogh Museum. Van Gogh Art de Sweets, the first Van Gogh F&B brand in the world, will also make its debut in Hong Kong during the exhibition. Visitors can assimilate into Van Gogh’s world, savoring the timeless enchantment of Van Gogh’s artwork. Click Here for more Information (PDF).

In case you haven't noticed, our clocks are getting a lot of attention lately!  The new joint project between L'Epee and MB&F, code named: Arachnophobia  was in the New York Times yesterday: These clocks have gotten a lot of attention: Watchgauge Techcrunch Hodinkee A Blog To Watch Forbes WatchPaper WatchUSeek Deployant Forbes Europastar Watch Collecting Lifestyle The Watch Lounge Geek Art Gallery Blog Check them out!

Do you know the artist Jean Kazes ? Every connoisseur of horology should. His works are beyond impressive... Did you know that North Coast Imports has one of his creations in the USA available for purchase? Ask your favorite clock dealer about it. You can find more info here: Here's a translation from his website : Born in 1930 , he trained as a precision mechanic and a teaching degree technique. He exercises for many years the profession of machine builder then acquire a degree in mechanical engineering . The trigger occurs when a friend asked if he can repair his Morbier , virus and watch the attrapât and never leave again. He decides to use the mechanics of these clocks that have crossed centuries to create timeless works of art . It is so invested in this passion that his whole soul spring in its work to find her real style that transforms a simple clock mechanical sculpture of unique beauty . His training as a mechanical engineer allows him to control t...

Another big cuckoo! Alright Portland! KPTV - FOX 12

Traditional, mechanical clocks have brought life to homes and galleries for hundreds of years. Over time they have evolved into a role of more than a functional tool. More than a passive wall covering, clocks have become important and exciting Objets d’ Art in the modern home. These pieces are kinetic sculptures that also happen to tell time. A young group of Black Forest artists are interested in exploring their regional icon, the cuckoo clock, and allowing it to evolve into modernity. North Coast Imports is proud to distribute these creations, and we've devoted an entire separate website to the hundreds of / design clocks available. There are a few standard clocks available, and there are also hundreds of one-of-a-kind pieces where the artists have used these base models as their canvas to create new expressions in Black Forest Clock Art. We've just uploaded pictures of dozens more NEW models that were recently created. Be sure to check out www.NorthCoastImports.com/desi...

Our new / design line is really attracting a lot of international attention. The Classic Space was recently featured in ReadyMade Magazine and now the Romba ART Clocks are featured in the in-flight magazine for Ryan Air.

Here's another new conception of an alarm clock - a re-definition of a clock that puts you to bed and wakes you after you've slept enough. This conceptual piece has two alarms. One to tell you when you should go to bed, and the other to wake you after you've had enough hours of sleep. The sound and design recalls the woodpecker and his tree. It's beautifully constructed. [via Treehugger ] Don't forget the bird-inspired alarm clocks available from North Coast Imports

We, at North Coast Imports , love to see homemade creations in horology... especially new and imaginative ones! Here's a very cool scope clock by Albert Y. that's based off of the Thiem-Work components . He was helped by Eric C. both in vision and execution. [via Adafruit ]

The city of Freiburg, Germany (in the Black Forest) is in exhibition at the world Expo in Shanghai . We posted about the exhibit here . Here's the mayor of Freiburg Dieter Salomon, German president Horst Köhler, and a woman in traditional Black Forest dress.

This is part of the Black Forest exhibition at the Expo in Shanghai. Notice all the Romba clocks! Here are some more pictures of the installation and behind the curtain. The clock in the center is by Stefan Strumbel (who's clocks have been featured on the blogosphere quite a lot lately) and the rest are from our Romba! Be sure and check out our websites for more information on these clocks. www.northcoastimports.com www.northcoastimports.com/design

You knew it was only a matter of time. This cuckoo clock calls whenever he is tweeted from Twitter. Plus, you can read the Tweet and past Tweets on the touchscreen. Twitwee Clock from Haroon Baig on Vimeo . From Heidelberg-based designer Haroon Baig . Via Wired Check out OUR novelty, battery-operated cuckoos!

Images via Designboom We found these great new concepts for cuckoo clocks online which were created as part of a contest for forest conservation. Designer Naoto Fukawasa created a beautiful cuckoo clock using timber removed from over-planted forests. The project was done in conjunction with Isetan, a Japanese department store, and More Trees , an organization that works with forest conservation in Japan and overseas. But the fun didn't stop with just one cuckoo clock. The display consisted of 50 customized interpretations of the clock by 50 different artists and designers from all over Japan. The whimsical and amazing clocks are enough to stop anyone in their tracks. [via Treehugger and Designboom ] Don't forget about our popular design cuckoo clocks here . The Classic Space will soon be featured in ReadyMade magazine in early 2010. Stay Tuned...

Here's something I found. I don't quite understand how to read this clock, but it has something to do with the speed that grass grows. If you grow Wheat Grass you can even eat the clippings! Read more at the DesignCrave Blog . Based on the notion of the inherent benefits of growing grass, the Hour///Gras Living Wall Clock designed by J Yu puts a spin on the typical potted plant using a glass-and-stainless-steel-bodied clock to house your grass or other greenery. The hour and minute hand double as blades that cut the grass to a preset length. You can water through an opening on top. If you decide to grow wheat grass, you can eat the shavings that fall into a bin on the bottom of the clock. If not, you’ll have to clean up after your grass clock while cursing whatever relative purchased it for you. On the plus side, you can finally combine the two thrilling pasttimes of watching grass grow and fixating on the slowly-moving minute hand of your clock. Click Here for more interes...

Here's something interesting... On this Continue Time clock, two out of the three pointers rotate around another pointer, instead of the central point on the clock face, as with traditional clocks. The resulting kinetic artwork, and functional clock, is continuously changing its shape during a full rotation of twelve hours. While creating mesmerizing patterns on your wall the pointers are still read as with any traditional clock. The Continue Time clock measures 105 centimeters from end to end; a full 12 hours will span a circle of 210 centimeters centimeters of wall. [via Makezine ] Remember, there are more fascinating clocks of modern design here: www.northcoastimports.com/design

Jim Seller's made this amazing box full of gorgeously-machined art-widgets as a gift for a friend. It doesn't actually do anything, except make people feel really good looking at the craftsmanship and love involved. Jim wanted to make something in the style of a 19th century scientific instrument. He calls it the ETD (Earth Tremor Detector). [via Makezine ]

From Robert Frost's Banjo : Today’s poem is by Robert Desnos , a marvelously lyrical poet who was very much a part of the Surrealist movement in the 1920s, but who later broke with the Surrealists (& in particular André Breton). I think you'll agree that “Cuckoo” presents a lovely, fairy-tale like dreamscape. The title might be translated as “Cuckoo-Clock,” (because "coucou" in French also means the clock) but this isn’t the primary meaning, which simply refers to the bird. Of course, as I believe Eberle used to tell her writing students, “if you have a radiator & leopard skin pants, you already have a jungle,” so course you have a cuckoo clock once you have a cuckoo." Cuckoo It was all as if in a childlike picture The moon wore an opera hat that eight reflections ricocheted off across the surface of ponds The ghost dressed in a natty shroud Was smoking a cigar at the window of his room At the castlekeep's top story Where the sagacious crow told th...

Followers of North Coast Imports know that we are pleased as punch to be introducing an entirely new line of cuckoo clocks in our /design series . These clocks are a marriage of fine tradition with fine arts (and design). We are even planning an ancillary exhibition tour of artworks by the Black Forest artists who are responsible for creating these clocks. It's good to see that we are not alone in creating a body of artistic work centered around the cuckoo clock. I recently read about The Bird House , a one-act play by Kate Marks receiving its world premiere at Theatre Three. "The play's action begins in a brightly colored tree house in a land called The Bright Side where Louisy (Cotton Wright) and Syl (Christina Shipp) live in a sheltered ignorance that is decidedly not bliss. Initially, the primary source of their anxiety is that the two birds in their cuckoo clock (named "Cuck" and "Koo") can't be made to stay any longer than it takes for the...