 |
The Carpenter Clock
William Carpenter, 1780
Clock case, mechanised figures and bells of gilt brass,
with enamelled and glass paste decoration.
The Victoria & Albert Museum
|
This fascinating clock is an excellent representation of the type of brilliant clockwork being produced in England in the late Eighteenth Century. More than just a timepiece, this clock featured six different tunes—a march, a song, two jigs and two dances. Along with the music, the works featured automaton figures dressed in Seventeenth Century costume. Each figure rings a bell in time to the tune which is being played. The mechanical figures are divided into two categories. In the setting of a masquerade ball in a tier above a lavish, painted landscape, the seated figures play the tunes on the bells beneath their feet while the standing figures chime the time.
Clocks such as this were created especially for export to the East. Collectors in Turkey, China and India were fascinated by these Western clockworks and clamored for them. This particular clock is the work of celebrated clockmaker William Carpenter. It was recently restored and resides in The Victoria & Albert Museum.
No comments:
Post a Comment