Captain Hook

The Captain Hook wall clock is the result of what can be called a projectual archaeology operation: starting from a single archival image dating back to the 1940s, the original prototype was recreated, restoring both form and presence to a type of object that has become rare in contemporary homes.

It is a tribute to Milanese designer Guglielmo Ulrich, who harbored a passionate obsession with clocks, through which he could finally unleash his decorative imagination, blending historical references with eccentricity—something he could not achieve within the universe of furniture alone. The numbering of his clocks hints at a tormenting connection with the relentless passage of time, like the ticking that haunts Captain Hook, driving him to design entire wall and table clock collections. As Luca Scacchetti notes in the monograph dedicated to the designer (Guglielmo Ulrich, Federico Motta Editore, 2009), these constructions, as in the case of Captain Hook, “narrow upwards as if reaching stellar heights, or conversely expand, making us appear, seen from above, Lilliputian and sunk into the ground.”

Ulrich’s clocks are characterized by a rich exploration of materials and an exaggerated assembly of diverse elements, while the hour graphics are continuously reinvented, and the hands taper, twist, curl, or even split.

The perpendicular beam of the Captain Hook clock extends to the floor and passes through the case containing the dial, both made of solid American walnut and available in various finishes. The dial itself is a true brass jewel, enhanced by a delicate vertical-line texture achieved with a special engraving tip, while the numbers, carved into the metal, are hand-enamelled in black, giving depth to the design. The hands and the anchoring system are made of burnished brass. A shellac finish is also available upon request.

Captain Hook is part of the Masters Tribute collection, a homage to the great 20th-century designers, aimed at bringing to light design objects that might otherwise be forgotten.