Grandfather's Clock c. 1936

Editor: Here we have Ernest Towers Jr.’s pencil drawing, "Grandfather's Clock," from around 1936. I’m struck by the precision of the lines, the detail even though it’s just a drawing. It almost feels like an architectural plan. What do you see in this piece, in terms of symbols or the images within it? Curator: Well, immediately, I'm drawn to the isolated components. Each motif – the spiral, the lock plate, even that enigmatic '315' – feels like a fragment of a larger narrative, a kind of symbolic language frozen in time. Each geometric or curvilinear pattern embodies layers of cultural meaning, echoing craftsmanship traditions. Editor: It’s interesting you say that. What specific cultural meanings might these components be holding? Curator: The spiral, for instance, has been a pervasive symbol across cultures representing growth, the cycles of time, even spiritual journeys. Then consider the keyhole—it symbolizes access, secrets, knowledge waiting to be unlocked. Doesn't this compilation trigger thoughts about our relationship to time and the ways it shapes our memories? Does it speak to any family narratives? Editor: I never would have looked at it that way! It's like the drawing isn't just about a clock, but about time, access, and lost moments. I appreciate your interpretation of cultural memory because I am seeing my own family reflected in the drawing. Curator: Exactly! This image evokes cultural memory. Editor: Well, I'll never look at a grandfather clock the same way again. Thanks for revealing the symbols in this drawing, I learned so much.