Wall clock with calendar 1770 - 1780

This gilded wall clock with calendar was made by Thomas Harben II, an English clockmaker who lived from 1739 to 1803. During Harben’s lifetime, London was a hub of innovation and global trade. The decorative excess of this clock reflects the wealth that flowed through England during this era, wealth derived from the exploitation of enslaved peoples and resources in colonized lands. Note the bird perched at the top, likely a phoenix, a symbol of rebirth and resilience. Clocks of this period were more than just functional items; they were status symbols indicating one’s place in the social hierarchy. But time, of course, waits for no one. It is a great leveler, indifferent to wealth or status. Consider how objects like this clock embody the complex intersections of artistry, wealth, and exploitation that characterized the period in which they were made.