Case clock 19th century

Editor: Here we have a nineteenth-century "Case clock" by Jeremias Metsker, currently residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and it is primarily made of metal. The gold color, elaborate sculptural details, and layered construction immediately make it stand out. What's your interpretation of the artistry at play here? Curator: It is a fascinating object. Focusing solely on the visual, the most immediate aspects of the work involve its density and articulation. The piece teems with visual incident, drawing attention to the labor involved in its facture. How do you think the material affects our perception? Editor: The all-over gold really amps up the luxury feeling. It makes the clock seem more symbolic or ceremonial rather than just functional. It also suggests this incredible harmony. The case appears as a uniform block in gold, which lends visual unity despite all the smaller adornments. Curator: Precisely. And consider how that even tone emphasizes the dimensionality achieved by Metsker through a dynamic interplay between planar surfaces, sculptural projections, and intricate cut-outs. There’s a sense of layered depth to the metal that moves past simple gilding. Does the sculpture at the very top change how you consider the whole piece? Editor: Absolutely. That single figure shifts my attention upwards and it makes me wonder about its significance within the larger, baroque framework. It’s easy to focus on the many elements. Curator: Consider the effect produced through all this detailed craft. Can you identify any guiding principles in this Baroque artistry? Editor: Seeing how meticulously made and densely patterned it is now, and considering our talk, it's hard to think of the piece as simply baroque ornament. All these visual components communicate technical skills. Curator: Agreed. Looking closely unveils a dense network of aesthetic calculation, of form, structure, material, and execution all deployed for deliberate expressive ends. The clock becomes something else, perhaps timeless, or perhaps of a specific time and moment, which may yet remain undeciphered.