Tafelklok, gefineerd met schildpad en zwart perenhout, en met verguld bronzen lijsten. Bekroond met vijf vazen met vlammen 1700 - 1725

Editor: This is a table clock dating from 1700 to 1725, crafted by Piolaine. It's veneered with tortoiseshell and black pear wood, and adorned with gilded bronze. I find its Baroque style incredibly opulent, especially the flame-topped vases. What's your take on a piece like this? Curator: It's interesting how objects like these reveal the societal obsession with status during the Baroque period. A clock wasn't just functional; it was a symbol of wealth, control, and the scientific advancements that were captivating the elite. What do you notice about its materials? Editor: Well, the combination of tortoiseshell, pear wood, and gilded bronze feels… indulgent. I imagine these were quite precious, so only accessible to the very wealthy. Curator: Precisely. Think about the trade routes established during that era, bringing exotic materials like tortoiseshell from distant lands. Displaying such materials was a blatant exhibition of global power and affluence. Consider the political climate - powerful monarchies wanted these on display, flaunting that economic power. How might that intention shift our understanding of it? Editor: So, it’s not *just* a pretty clock; it’s a propaganda piece? A carefully constructed representation of power! I suppose I was focusing too much on aesthetics. Curator: Exactly. Even the choice of Baroque style itself—with its extravagance and dramatic flair—served to communicate the owner's position in society. The art that we observe has an active connection with politics, because someone once actively commissioned it. It makes one wonder what modern objects say the same things today. Editor: I see. It really puts the artwork into a completely different context when considering that, as it's all speaking to those cultural forces at work. Thanks!