The Art of Timekeeping
European Clocks from the collection of Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India (1700-1925)
What is Time?
Time is the progression of events from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a measurable period that lacks spatial/structural dimensions. It has no beginning and no end. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and years are all units of time devised by humankind.
History of Timekeeping Devices
Ancient civilizations observed astronomical bodies such as the moon’s phases and the sun’s shadow to determine the length of a month and number of hours in a day. Earth’s rotation and internal biological cycle of a humans and animals were often used to measure time.
The 24-hour Day
The 24-hour clock is the international standard format for time worldwide. Its origin can betraced back to the earliest evidence of a Sundial found in the valley of Kings, Upper Egypt, dated 1500 BCE.
The sundial found was divided in 12 parts for each hour of the day from
dusk to dawn. Since sundials weren’t useful at night, it was assumed the night was also 12 parts long. Hence, a day was considered 24 hours long!
The invention of Mechanical Clocks
A clock is an instrument used for the measurement of time. A mechanical clock may bedefined as a timekeeping instrument that relies purely on mechanical mechanisms such as gears, springs, and pendulums to measure passage of time.
Earliest mechanical clocks were the tower clocks built during the renaissance in Northern Italy to Germany such as the Wells Cathedral Clock (1392). In 1656, Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens designed the first pendulum clock, which revolutionized the timekeeping accuracy. Marine chronometers were later invented in the 18th century for navigation.
What is Horology?
Horology is the study of time and the art of measuring it. It involves the design, construction and maintenance of clocks, watches and other timepieces. It is both a technical and artistic pursuit as it requires precision, attention to detail and an eye for design.
European Clocks at the Salar Jung Museum
The Salar Jung Museum’s clock collection is a testament to human innovation and craftsmanship in timekeeping. Rare and unique clocks such as showcasing intricate carvings, complex mechanisms, technical precision and rare charm are curated together for this online exhibition.
Mercury Pendulum Clock (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Mercury Pendulum Clock
The first mercury pendulum was invented by Graham in 1721. These clocks rely on mercury filled pendulums to keep time accurate despite the temperature fluctuations. It was a breakthrough in timekeeping, combining both art and science.
This clock from France, dated to 19th century is fixed inside six Egyptian Corinthian pillars. The clock frame is decorated with colourful enamel work. A hanging mercurial pendulum rests beneath the clock.
An inscription ‘A.I. 6436’ is on the back of the machine.
Grandfather Clock (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Grandfather Clock
This grandfather clock is a tall, freestanding, weight-driven pendulum clock. It belongs to England, dated 19th century. This long case watch has a square copper dial with numbers written in roman. It was manufactured by ‘URGOS Co.’
Clock by URGOS Co.
Urgos was one of the leading clock manufacturers in 1920s. It has long been associated with high-quality clock movements, particularly in the world of grandfather clocks. They are known for their precision, durability, and craftsmanship.
Cuckoo Clock (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Cuckoo Clock
In the early 17th century, it was believed to be very good luck to hear the cuckoo bird singing in the forest. The farmers in Germany used logs to build the clock which housed the lucky call of the Cuckoo bird; and so the cuckoo clock was born.
This cuckoo clock from Germany, dated 19th century is a mechanical clock. The clock is fitted in a house-shaped wooden case with a cock on top and leaf carvings on four sides with two hanging metallic weights.
Marine Chronometer (1900/1925)Salar Jung Museum
Marine Chronometer
This marine chronometer is an extraordinary timepiece with the focus on the needs of maritime navigation. It determines the longitude at sea. The clock is carefully mounted inside wooden box in gimbals so that it remains horizontal and thus undisturbed by the motion of the ship.
Favre-Leuba
An inscription on the dial ‘Favre Leuba & Co. Bombay 3397 .Down up’ identifies that it was manufactured by Favre-Leuba, the second oldest Swiss watch brand. At the start of the 20th century, Favre-Leuba were focussed on trade with India and the dial of this watch notes link with India.
Musical clock (1801/1899)Salar Jung Museum
British Bracket Clock
This musical clock is a star attraction to visitors at the museum. A miniature soldier figure comes out of an enclosure and strikes the gong at each hour and gets back to the enclosure. The clocks mechanism shows day, date and month and indicates the day’s hour in bigger dial.
The watch box is decorated with ormolu mounts. During the 18th & 19th centuries such curio-clocks were quite popular in Europe. Classical Greek and Roman motifs such as winged cherubs, forest creatures, acanthus leaves, floral wreaths are decorated on the surface in gilded metal.
Weather Clock (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Weather Clock
Unique table clock from France, dated 19th century has a barometer, compass and a thermometer. This double dialed writing table clock is enameled in a brass case. It is surrounded by six glass panels and decorated with eight metallic pillars.
Skeleton Clock (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Skeleton Clock
This skeleton clock is an interesting time piece from England, dated 19th century. A plain view of gears, wheels, springs and other parts that are usually concealed are openly visible from the front of the clock. Such clocks were first introduced in the early 17th century.
An inscription ‘T. Brown, London’ is visible on it.
Double Dialed Table Clock (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Double Dialled Table Clock
This double dialled table clock from Switzerland is mounted on green colored stone. The clock shows time in day, date, minutes and hours. Three inscriptions; ‘E. Gubelin Lucerne’, ‘8 Days’ and ‘Swiss’ is visible on the dial of the clock.
Clock by E. Gubelin
E. Gubelin is a Swiss luxury watch brand with a rich history dating back to 1842. It was founded by Theodor Gubelin in Lucerne, Switzerland. This brand continues to operate even today with more than six generations honoring high quality mechanical watches.
Quarter Chimer Clock (1800/1825)Salar Jung Museum
Quarter Chimer Clock
This clock is manufactured by one of the most famous clockmakers in London, during early 19th century, Dent. Dent was famous for his design and construction of fine and historically precise clocks. This quarter chime clock shows time in days, date, hour, minutes and seconds.
Clock by Dent Co.
An inscription ‘Dent, London 12916’ is visible at the back. The famous Big Ben or the Great Clock of Westminster was also constructed by John Edward Dent and Frederick Dent.
Ornate Clock by Rouviere Paris Ltd. (1700/1799)Salar Jung Museum
Ornate Clock by Rouviere Paris Ltd.
This Rouviere Paris clock exemplifies the elegance of French clockmaking during the 18th century. Intricate craftsmanship and ornate detailing makes it an exceptional timepiece.
In the world of watchmaking, Rouvière Paris is a well-known brand, renowned for its superb clocks and watches that flawlessly blend artistry, workmanship, and precision. They were highly sought after by European aristocracy.
Clock fixed inside Dresden Porcelain Decorative Piece (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Clock fixed inside Dresden Porcelain Decorative Piece
Dresden in Germany was an important center of artistic, cultural and intellectual movement, which attracted painters, sculptors, poets, philosophers and porcelain decorators alike. Dresden porcelain figures can be distinguished by the craftsmanship and elegance of the figure.
This clock is fitted inside a Dresden porcelain frame, decorated with floral and leafy designs.
Clock fixed inside Sevres Porcelain Vase (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Clock fixed inside Sevres Porcelain Vase
One of the most important contributions, France made to the development of art to the world in the 18th and 19th centuries is the production of excellent pieces of Sevres porcelain. The Sevres factory was developed under the patronage of kings of France.
This clock is fitted inside a metallic case within a Sevres porcelain vase. The clock is surrounded by ormolu garlands.
Text and Curation: Pallavi Baheti
Photography: M. Krishnamurthy and Bahadur Ali
Editing of images - K. Mahohar Lal
Research Assistance: Dinesh Singh and E. Rajesh
Special thanks: Shri Ashish Goyal, IIS, Director, Salar Jung Museum,
Dr. G. Kusum, Curator, Salar Jung Museum,
Soma Ghosh, Librarian, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India
References
1) The Collector’s Encyclopedia of Antiques (1986), London: Bloomsbury Books.
2) History of Timekeeping devices, Wikipedia (accessed on 16.10.2024)
3) Bruton E.(1999), The History of Clocks and Watches, U K: Little Brown & Company.
4) Baillie G.H.(1979), Watches, their history, decoration and mechanism, London: NAG Press Ltd.
5) A Brief History of Timekeeping, Explore Mode (YouTube) (accessed on 16.10.2024)
6) https://museum.seiko.co.jp/en/ (accessed on 16.10.2024)
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