Horloge van goud c. 1750 - 1800

Curator: Immediately, I'm drawn to the object's intricate detailing. The craftsmanship speaks of dedication. Editor: Welcome! Today we’re looking at "Horloge van goud," a gold clock dating from around 1750 to 1800 and believed to be from the Firma Romilly workshop. The use of gold indicates status and baroque influence is clear with these flourishing ornamental flourishes. Curator: The Roman numerals set against the delicate enamel face create a compelling visual rhythm. Tell me, what can we learn from how this object reflects time? Editor: Absolutely. Clocks like these dictated societal rhythms, influencing labor and leisure. These small accessories were a reflection of emerging capital, controlled hours translating directly to financial growth in this historical context. Gold, too, was mined and transported using human labor. Curator: Beyond socio-economics, do you note the balance? The curvature and the engraved bezel contribute to a formal harmony, even a golden ratio. The minute gradations and the sweep of the hand express precision and order, giving shape to ephemeral moments. Editor: Of course, but it goes deeper. Consider the act of production itself— the unseen artisan’s painstaking labour and skill. How do the economic structures in the baroque and decorative-art periods encourage such detailed production? What implications can be understood by the commodification of this artistic expression of gold and enamel? Curator: True, the formal qualities cannot fully detach from socio-historical contexts. What first captured my gaze may indeed have been determined by something other than an aesthetic principle, maybe even an expectation of how beauty operates. Thank you for revealing a broader depth! Editor: Likewise! Understanding the object’s history provides context. By investigating materiality and production, one sees past face value of form and ornamentation.