Shelf Clock c. 1820 - 1840

This shelf clock was made by Benjamin Torrey, active in Hanover, Massachusetts, sometime before his death in 1843. While it tells time, it also tells us a lot about the emerging market economy of the early American republic. Before industrialization, timepieces were expensive status symbols. But by the early 19th century, advances in manufacturing made clocks like this more affordable for middle-class homes. Clocks helped standardize the workday and instilled a new sense of temporal discipline in a rapidly changing society. Look at the folksy scene decorating the base. It reminds us of an agrarian past that was quickly fading as commerce and industry took hold. Torrey's clock reflects the anxieties and aspirations of a young nation grappling with new technologies and social structures. To fully understand its meaning, we can consult period newspapers, account books, and other documents that shed light on the lives of everyday Americans during this transformative era. The history of art invites us to explore the complex interplay between objects, people, and the forces that shape our world.