Clock and gunpowder horn c. 1590 - 1596

This clock and gunpowder horn were likely forged from iron in the Netherlands, though the exact date and maker are unknown. The clock's rough-hewn surfaces and robust construction speak to the demanding labor involved in its creation. Imagine the blacksmith's workshop, the clang of the hammer, and the intense heat of the forge. These conditions shaped the iron's form and texture, giving the clock a weighty presence. The gun powder horn would have been used by soldiers and hunters, who needed to measure out gunpowder quickly and accurately. The incorporation of a clock suggests more than just utility; time itself was becoming a measure of human endeavor. It speaks to the rise of a new social order, one where the rhythms of life were increasingly governed by the clock, reflecting the evolving relationships between labor, technology, and the rise of capitalism. This object blurs the boundaries between the functional and the symbolic, between craft and the measurement of modern life.