The Horological Collection at the British Museum
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The Horological Collection
at the British Museum
Part 2 – Accessing the Collection
Laura Turner
This is the second in a two-part series about the horological collection at the British Museum. The first part can
be read in the March 2016 Horological Journal, pages 116–121.
Horological Gallery
Throughout the Museum’s history there have been various
horological displays, but it was not until 1976 that the
Museum had a dedicated horological gallery. Some may
remember Gallery 44 which, with its innovative presentation
style of displaying movements working alongside their cases,
was hailed as one of the best in the world. Nonetheless, after
30 years the exhibition was in need of updating, and thanks
to the support of Sir Harry and Lady Djanogly, the current
horological gallery was opened in 2008, in rooms 38 and 39
on the first floor at the front of the Museum.
The entrance to the horological gallery is guarded by
Habrecht’s impressive Carillon clock.1 Made in 1589 and still
working, it never fails to attract a crowd of visitors on the hour
when the automata move and the music plays.
On entering the gallery, the first object the visitor sees is
the large Cassiobury Park turret clock.2 This clock is running
and provides a good introduction to the world of clocks and
watches; the large, easily seen mechanism is accompanied by
a short animation explaining how a clock works, breaking
it down into five elements: Energy, Wheels, Escapement,
Controller and Indicator.
The gallery houses 89 watches and 105 clocks, and tells
the story of horology from the beginning of mechanical
timekeeping in the 13th century up to modern times.
In addition to the objects belonging to the museum, we have
some important pieces on loan from other institutions and
private owners, among them the earliest object in the gallery,
a chamber clock from Burgundy dating from c.1450. It is
weight driven, but believed to have been an early example of a
spring driven clock, which was later converted to weight drive.
It is displayed alongside a model (made by former curator
Beresford Hutchinson) showing how it may once have been.
The clock is on loan from the Victoria & Albert Museum.
The British Museum also has an extensive lending programme,
and objects from the horological collection are often sent for
special exhibitions at other museums.
The gallery takes the visitor on a journey from the early
iron wall clocks, through the highly decorative Renaissance
period to the introduction of the pendulum, the development
of domestic clocks and the quest for greater accuracy,
the development of timekeeping at sea, and the advent of mass
production, right up to developments of the modern age, with
Figure 1. The Strasbourg carillon clock made by Isaac Habrecht, BM electric and radio controlled clocks.
Reg. No. 1888,1201.100. © The Trustees of the British Museum. The watches are displayed together in one case which
154 HOROLOGICAL JOURNAL April 2016
Figure 3. A wooden-wheeled clock from Davos
in Switzerland. Currently on display in gallery 39
as part of the temporary exhibit ‘Wooden Clocks
of the World’. BM Reg. No. 1972,0404.1.
Figure 2. The watch display in Gallery 39. © The Trustees of the British Museum. © The Trustees of the British Museum.
clearly charts their development in both style and technology
from very early drum shaped watches hung round the
neck through to modern wristwatches. Nearby, is a second
animation explaining how a watch works, situated above
a working example of a similar pocket watch made by the
Lancashire Watch Company.3 Both the clocks and watch
animations can also be found on the museum website.4
Some of the clocks and watches in the gallery have their
movements displayed separately alongside their cases so that
the mechanisms can be examined and understood, and many
of the clocks are running. The display cases are dustproof,
but also soundproof, so they have been fitted with speakers to
allow the clocks to be heard. The gentle ticking and occasional
chiming and striking of bells and a cuckoo, add to the unique
atmosphere of the horological galleries.
The gallery has been curated to best illustrate the story
of horology, so the display generally remains constant.
However, one case is set aside for short-term special
exhibitions relating to specific aspects of horology and gives
the opportunity to introduce the public to various sections of
the reserve collection. Themes explored so far have included
the story of alarm clocks through the ages, a live experiment
testing the potential use of bonded solid film lubricants as
a way to prevent wear to clock pinions, and currently a display
of wooden wheeled clocks from around the world.
In addition to the dedicated galleries, there are horological
pieces on display within many other galleries in the museum, Figures 4a and 4b. Still shots from the animation showing how
including astrolabes and marine chronometers in Gallery 1 mechanical clocks work. The full animation can be seen in gallery 38.
‘Enlightenment’, and a corner devoted to the Ilbert Collection, © The Trustees of the British Museum.
with a few key pieces and some information about Ilbert’s life
in Gallery 2 ‘Collecting the world’. Although we are unable to have the entire horological
There will soon be a new horological exhibition within the collection on display in the galleries, objects held in the
members’ room entitled ‘Telling the Time in Light and Dark’ reserve collection are available for study by appointment in
which will explore the relationship between horology and the our horological study room, alongside the horological library.
Sun, Moon and stars. A selection of objects will demonstrate
how sound, touch and illumination are used to read the time. Horological Study Room
The members’ room is open to British Museum members After the Museum acquired the Ilbert Collection in 1958
only. By becoming a member you can help to support the there was a need for a new space to store and study the
museum, whilst enjoying exclusive benefits including special now much larger collection. Thanks to the generosity of Sir
events and unlimited free entry to exhibitions. Further details Gilbert Edgar, a dedicated horological study room was set up
can be found on the website.5 and opened by Sir Edgar on Tuesday 9 July 1963.
April 2016 HOROLOGICAL JOURNAL 155
Figure 6. A group of Architectural Association students drawing clocks
in the study room. © The Trustees of the British Museum.
Situated in the east wing of the Museum, the study room
has large tables providing plenty of space for studying objects
or books. The walls are lined with longcase clocks and display
cabinets full of watches, clocks and scientific instruments,
providing an inspiring and impressive environment for study
and talks.
The room is open Tuesday to Friday by appointment
to interested members of the public. Individual visitors
Figure 5. The Great Court inside the British Museum. © The Trustees can make an appointment to examine Museum objects
of the British Museum. more closely, either from the gallery displays or the reserve
collection, or to research the background of their own clock
or watch.
The room also serves as a venue for talks by the curators.
Regular topics include introductions to clocks and watches
or scientific instruments and recently we have, on request,
had talks on more specialised topics such as Abraham Louis
Breguet and wooden wheeled clocks.
A wide range of visitors are welcomed, from complete
novices to experts. Indeed, you do not need to have any
knowledge of horology to enjoy a visit. We have a group
of architectural association students come each year to spend
a day drawing the clocks, and we have had groups of literary
students visit to gain inspiration for their writing. This year
we have also had a production team visit researching clocks
for an opera.6
The horological study room also houses the Museum’s
horological library. The library was opened alongside
the study room in 1963 after Michael Inchbald (nephew
of Courtenay Adrian Ilbert) funded the purchase of a small
library of books. We now have an ever growing collection
of monographs, exhibition and auction catalogues,
journals and other publications, which have recently been
re-catalogued and reorganised to enable this resource to be
digitally searched. There is also the John Leopold Bequest
Figure 7. Horological Curators, Oliver Cooke, Laura Turner and Paul library, which has yet to be added to the online catalogue, and
Buck in gallery 39. © The Trustees of the British Museum. contains many significant books.
156 HOROLOGICAL JOURNAL April 2016
Sams Note: Possibly try putting a background in // images need enhancing.
Figure 8. Three prototype ‘Jeff Arnold’ pocket watches made by Ingersoll showing different stages in design development.
BM Reg. Nos. 1983,1012.132-134. © The Trustees of the British Museum.
Accessing the Collection
The Galleries
The Museum is open every day except for 1 January and makers also has a biographical entry on the database. These
24–26 December. The horological galleries are open from entries are currently being expanded and upgraded by our
10:00am until 5:30pm daily and from 10:00am until 8:30pm volunteers. The only objects not listed on the database are
on Fridays. Entry is free. For more information about those that are on loan to the Museum.
visiting the Museum see the ‘visiting’ section of the website The online collection search is a convenient way to see
or telephone the museum information desk.7 which objects the museum holds. It can be used as a research
If you are planning a visit to the museum to see a specific tool in its own right, or prior to making an appointment
item in the gallery we recommend you to contact us first to visit the study room in order to pinpoint items you wish
to check it is on display. Items are occasionally removed for to examine more closely on your visit.
conservation, study or photography, and sometimes objects The Museum’s library is also searchable online through the
are on loan to other museums. ‘libraries and archive’ section of the website or via Copac.10
Lunchtime gallery talks are held occasionally, focusing on A list of the horological periodicals held at the Museum is also
different areas of the collection. These are free and it is not included at the end of this article. In addition, the Museum
necessary to book in advance. To find out about upcoming holds many non-horological journals which on occasion
talks, visit the events section of the museum website.8 have horological articles, so if you are trying to track down
a particular article from another journal we may be able
Study Room and Library Access to assist.
Should you wish to visit the horological study room to see In November 2015 the Museum launched a new partnership
part of the collection, or to access the horological library, with Google cultural institute.11 Over 5,000 objects can now
you can email us at: horological@britishmuseum.org. be viewed online through the Cultural Institute platform
The study room is open Tuesday to Friday throughout the year from around the world. Indoor streetview filming has made
by appointment (closed August); photographic identification it possible to take a virtual walk through the Museum, making
is required. ‘Introduction to horology’ talks are arranged as the horological gallery accessible worldwide. Highlight items
part of the Museum’s programme of events and can be booked can be selected for more information. In addition, there
by interested individuals via the website. are specially curated virtual exhibits, initially focusing on
the Museum’s current special exhibitions. Hopefully this
Online Access will inspire people to visit the Museum in person, as well
All the objects in the museum collection are listed on our as providing an opportunity for those who are unable to travel
database, which is accessible via a search engine in the to the Museum to experience more of the collection. Also
‘research area’ of our website.9 Each object has a description recently developed is the ‘Museum of the World’ microsite,
along with information such as maker, production date, which maps objects on to a timeline and makes links between
dimensions, materials etc. and many records also have different cultures and places.
additional technical details and photographs. Each of the
April 2016 HOROLOGICAL JOURNAL 157
Conclusion
The British Museum is first and foremost a public collection,
Appendix – Journals
and as such its goal is to ensure the collection is accessible
and enjoyable to all, both in this country and across the
List of Horological Periodicals held at the
world. The horological collection is a vast and varied resource
British Museum
and whether it be browsing the collection online, visiting
the galleries, or coming to use the study room, the museum
Antiquarian Horolog y
provides a unique facility for exploring the world of horology.
Bulletin de l'Association nationale des collectionneurs et
Contact Details amateurs d'horlogerie ancienne et d'art
Mailing address: Clocks (including Antique Clocks and Clocks Magazine).
The British Museum,
Great Russell Street, Chronométrophilia
London, Chronos – 2004 onwards.
WC1B 3DG. Cog Counter's Journal – 2008 onwards
Website: www.britishmuseum.org
Museum Information desk: +44 (0)20 7323 8299 or Horlogerie Ancienne: revue de l'Association française des
information@britishmuseum.org amateurs d'horlogerie ancienne
Horological Enquiries (and to book an appointment in the Journal Suisse d'Horlogerie – 1977 onwards.
horological students room): horological@britishmuseum.org
Klassik Uhren (including Alte Uhren: Zeitmessgerate,
wissenschaftliche Instrumente und Automaten/Alte Uhren und
moderne Zeitmessung/Urhen).
La Voce di Hora: pubblicazione dell'Associazione
Italiana Cultori di Orologeria Antica.
Radio Time
The Horological Journal
The Practical Watch and Clockmaker/The Watch and
Clockmaker
Timecraft: Clocks and Watches
Watch and Clock Bulletin: Journal of the National
Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (including
NAWCC bulletin). Vol.26 onwards.
Figure 9. Astronomical Compendium made by Johann Anton Lindon in * If you are interested in a particular volume or issue, please
1596. BM Reg. No. 1857, 1116.1. © The Trustees of the British Museum. contact us before visiting to ensure we hold that copy.
ENDNOTES
1. Habrecht’s Carillon clock, British Museum Registration
Number: 1888,1201.100
2. Cassiobury Park turret clock, British Museum Registration
Number: 1964,0203.1
3. Lancashire Watch Company pocket watch, British Museum
Registration Number: 2009,8047.1
4. http://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/galleries/europe/
room_38-39_clocks_and_watches.aspx accessed 17/12/15.
5. http://www.britishmuseum.org/membership.aspx
accessed 5/12/15.
6. ‘Clocks 1888: The Greener’ http://www.brollyproductions.
com/#!home/c22j5 accessed 10/12/15.
7. http://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting.aspx accessed
5/12/15.
8. http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/
gallery_talks.aspx accessed 5/12/15.
9. http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/
search.aspx accessed 5/12/15.
10. http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/libraries_and_
archives.aspx accessed 5/12/15.
Figure 10. An eighteenth century clockmaker's wheel cutting engine 11. https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/collection/the-
made by Knight. BM Reg. No. 1976, 0202.70. © The Trustees of the british-museum accessed 5/12/15.
British Museum.
158 HOROLOGICAL JOURNAL April 2016
You can also read
