Curated by historian and clock expert Richard Garnier, Innovation and Collaboration begins next week and focuses on the period c.1600-1726.
Many of the items on display are from two collectors: an anonymous lender and the Isle of Man entrepreneur and horologist Dr John C Taylor (b.1936). But the event also features loans from the Science Museum, The Clockmakers’ Company and the Collection of the 5th Lord Harris from Belmont House in Faversham.
As revealed in ATG’s clockmaking feature in June (No 2346), among the exhibits is a copy of the Commonwealth Mercury from November 25, 1658, that includes Ahasuerus Fromanteel’s famous advertisement for ‘Clocks that go exact and keep equaller time’. With these printed words, the English domestic pendulum clock was born.
Watchmaker Roger Smith has supported the event. He said: “As a modern watchmaker, it is important to remember that clocks were the foundation of all the horological advancements which would eventually enable the development of the watch. Time starts with clocks, so no horologist or serious collector can ignore the importance of clocks and pocket-watches in our continued endeavour to accurately measure time.”
The exhibition runs from September 3-14 at Bonhams Bond Street in London.
