Clock 1800 - 1825

This clock was made by Drouot, in France, in the nineteenth century. This clock is a fascinating example of the era's obsession with antiquity, as well as being an expression of status. Its neoclassical style, with marble figures reminiscent of Greek gods, speaks to the cultural elite's admiration for the ideals of ancient Greece and Rome. Note how the male figure is nude, and how the female figure is draped in classical robes. These are visual codes that signaled refinement and education. The presence of a clock, however, brings us back to the nineteenth century and its emergent ideas of industrial efficiency and the measurement of labor time. The historian can draw on trade records, design publications, and other documents to shed light on the clock's cultural significance. In doing so, we understand how seemingly timeless art objects are embedded in social and institutional contexts.