Koperen gewicht horend bij een klok c. 1700

Editor: So this piece is called "Koperen gewicht horend bij een klok," or "Copper Weight Belonging to a Clock," and it’s from around 1700. The artist is Jan Koogies, and it uses materials like wood and metal with some carving. I’m struck by the weight of it – both literally and figuratively! The materials look expensive, and really emphasize status. What can you tell me about it? Curator: From a materialist perspective, the clock's construction reveals a fascinating story about labor and consumption in the Baroque era. Consider the raw materials: wood, copper, and the labor required to transform them into this intricate device. Were these materials locally sourced or acquired through trade networks? Who were the artisans involved in its creation, and what were their working conditions? The production of such an elaborate object speaks volumes about the social context in which it was made. Editor: That's interesting! So you are not so much thinking about aesthetics as the human input? Curator: Precisely. Look closely at the carvings; consider the labor and skill involved in creating such fine details. Think about the relationship between the clockmaker, the carver, and those who extracted the raw materials. This wasn’t just art for art’s sake; it was a manufactured commodity intended for consumption. Also, to whose "time" was this clock catering to? What does this tell us about the development of the concept of leisure for some, versus regulated hours of work for others, due to the demands of manufacture? Editor: I see, it shifts the focus to the people behind the object. I'm now also looking at the Baroque style with fresh eyes. I used to consider that just about visual exuberance! Curator: The exuberance you mention in the design might mask inequalities, or emphasize wealth... This lens allows us to interrogate those assumptions. Editor: This approach gives the piece so much more meaning. It's made me realize how much the social and economic conditions impact the art object itself.