Table clock 1580 - 1585

This table clock, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was crafted by Bartholomew Newsam. Its gilded surface and intricate details create a visually rich experience. The clock is structured in two main sections: a cylindrical base adorned with swirling botanical motifs and classical figures. Above this sits a pierced dome. The base presents a static field of decoration while the latticed dome suggests openness, a permeable boundary between the clock’s mechanism and the external world. The contrast between the solid base and the permeable dome creates a visual dialogue about enclosure and exposure. The interplay of light and shadow is critical here, creating a shifting pattern that animates the clock's surface, altering our perception of its form. This emphasizes the passage of time.