Lyre Clock 1822 - 1828

Curator: Ah, the “Lyre Clock,” created by John Sawin sometime between 1822 and 1828. What strikes you first about this piece? Editor: I am immediately taken with the duality. It’s a clock, a functional object for measuring time. But it's also this incredibly ornate, sculpted piece that’s striving for high art. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: I see labor, Editor. The crafting of this clock involved multiple processes and materials. Think about the extraction of the metals, the woodworking required for the lyre frame, and the artistry in the sculpted details. Each of these points to networks of production and a division of labor. Consider, too, the consumption aspect: who could afford such an object? What does it mean to display crafted items within the domestic sphere, given its social context? Editor: I never thought about the labor behind it! I was too caught up in the visual appeal. The materials feel almost contradictory; a base metal trying to masquerade as something more precious through its ornate form. Is that tension important? Curator: Absolutely! That tension highlights a key aspect of Materialist study - how objects negotiate their class and social position. Is this a “failed” attempt at high art because it retains its utilitarian function and utilizes “common” materials? Or does that blurring of boundaries challenge traditional art hierarchies? What do you think? Editor: So by questioning the materials and the means of its creation, we begin to see the Lyre Clock less as just a decorative item, and more as a record of its own historical context. Thank you, that was eye opening! Curator: Indeed! Seeing art through the lens of its making allows us to understand not only the object itself, but also the complex social and economic relations it embodies. I learned a lot through your view on contrasting aesthetics.