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Luxury and Death – Renaissance and Baroque Clocks

Portable table clocks with elaborately ornamented cases appeared in the 16th and 17th centuries. Collections of the nobility and the grand bourgeoisie, along with art chambers and curiosity cabinets, served as showpieces of wealth and power. In addition to time, they often showed calendar and astronomical indications or moving figures as well.

Table clocks. Detail from a painting by J. Brueghel the Elder and P. P. Rubens, early 17th century (wikipedia)[Close][Open]
Table clock. N. Dauville, Lyon (France) 1544 (Inv. K-1296)[Close][Open]
Turret clock. Hans Koch, Munich c. 1580 (Inv. K-1288)[Close][Open]
Movement of a turret clock. Hans Koch, Munch c. 1580 (Inv. K-1288)[Close][Open]
Turret clock with astronomical indications. Michael Wagner, Wroclaw (Poland) c. 1690 (Inv. K-1285)[Close][Open]
Table clock with figure automaton. Nicolaus Schmid, Augsburg c. 1620 (Inv. K-1308)[Close][Open]
Table clock with figure automaton. Unknown maker, Augsburg c. 1630 (Inv. K-1280)[Close][Open]
Movement of a table clock with alarm. Unknown maker, Augsburg c. 1630 (Inv. K-1264)[Close][Open]
Hourglass. Unknown maker, 18th century (Inv. 1995-902)[Close][Open]
Oil-lamp clock. Unknown maker, 18th century (Inv. 58-2064)[Close][Open]

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