Horloge van verguld koper c. 1775 - 1800

This is J. Worke’s gilded copper clock. Visually, you're immediately struck by its circular form, softened by the ornate details of the case. The bright white face, marked with stark Roman numerals, provides a high contrast to the warm, reflective gold. The clock exists as a marker of time, but also an object of status, and perhaps even a memento mori. The gilded copper case speaks to craftsmanship and wealth. This contrasts with the clock's function: to break down time into measurable, repeatable units. The clock thus becomes a representation of structuralist principles; it signifies underlying structures of social and economic order. Consider how this object challenges our understanding of time itself. It invites us to question how we perceive and engage with the temporal structures that govern our lives. This gilded timepiece is a testament to the intricate interplay between form, function, and meaning, continually re-interpreted through cultural and philosophical lenses.