A special display of rare and significant historical timepieces telling the story of a golden age of innovation in British watch and clockmaking will go on show at the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, which runs to 26 January 2020.
The Luxury of Time: Clocks from 1550-1750 features objects from the private collection of Dr John C Taylor OBE.
The 25 objects to be shown demonstrate the golden age of British clock and watch-making and illustrate the delicate workmanship and incredible technical skills involved. Exquisitely made and decorated in precious metals, they were labour-intensive, luxury items that were at the cutting edge of technology. Many early examples were seen as the ultimate status symbols of their day and were only affordable for the very rich.
Objects to be displayed include two beautiful watches by David Ramsay, a Scot living in London who was the Royal Clockmaker to King James VI & I and the first master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers founded in 1631. The Ramsay watches on show will include a beautiful silver gilt-metal astronomical watch featuring an engraving of King James VI & I and an intricately-engraved oval watch featuring a backplate bearing the words David Ramsay Scotus me fecit reflecting the maker’s pride in his Scottish heritage.
Prior to the 17th century, clock and watchmaking was primarily the domain of mainland European makers. As many fled to Britain to escape religious persecution, they passed on the skills of their trade and pioneering British clock and watchmakers soon made London one of the dominant centres of clockmaking.
The Luxury of Time: Clocks from 1550-1750 will give a unique insight into how this industry developed. The four display cases will tell a fascinating story of scientific and technical advancement during periods of extreme turmoil, from early clocks made by blacksmiths and which kept time to around a quarter of an hour a day, to the invention of the pendulum clock and the balance spring which enabled much more accurate timekeeping to within a few seconds a day.
For further information about this fascinating exhibition, please visit the venue’s website here.
