The Palace Museum Clock Hall is a unique exhibition hall in the Palace Museum, displaying a large number of precious historical clocks and watches. These clocks are not only beautifully made, but also integrate various elements such as painting, sculpture, craft, astronomy, music, machinery and science and technology, showing the exquisite skills of Chinese and foreign watch manufacturing more than 100 years ago. The following is an introduction to the display of precious timepieces at the Palace Museum:
Sources and types of clocks
The Palace Museum has a wide collection of clocks and watches from a wide range of sources. These timepieces include Chinese timepieces and European timepieces two categories, of which Chinese timepieces are mainly made by the Qing Palace and Guangzhou, Suzhou and other places watchmakers; European watches come from Britain, France, Switzerland, Japan and other countries. These clocks are not only numerous, but also have their own characteristics, representing the highest level of watch manufacturing in China and abroad at that time.
Precious clock display
1. Bronze gilt enamel agate stone Siming clock
Features: After the ingenuity of the 19th century, the exquisite craft and exquisite materials are perfectly integrated. It not only represents the peak of traditional craftsmanship, but also integrates innovative design concepts. Its exquisite craftsmanship and exquisite materials complement each other, and together create this art treasure that perfectly integrates tradition and innovation.
Value: It is not only a superb handicraft, but also carries a profound historical background. It combines the essence of classical craftsmanship with the creativity of modern design, showing a breathtaking artistic charm.
2. Copper gold-plated enamelled calabash top fishing and reading clock
Features: With 4 copper gold-plated goats as feet, the clock body is divided into 3 layers. The front of the ground floor has a built-in scene, with rocks and trees as the background, arranging four types of characters: fishing, firewood, farming and reading. On the left and right sides, there is a water method symbolizing the river, and ducks are comfortable in it. The front of the middle layer is a 2-hand clock, decorated with colored stone in a radioactive halo around the dial. The upper layer is a copper gold-plated inlaid blue enamel gourd, and there are two movable doors in the red stone frame under the abdomen of the gourd, the word “Great breeze” is written on the door, and there is a group of rotating characters inside the door. The upper abdomen of the gourd is decorated with 6 different types of golden “longevity” characters and eight treasure patterns.
Value: The clock uses the spring, tower wheel and chain as the power source, and makes full use of the mechanical linkage principle to coordinate the operation of various mobile devices, showing that the production of Guangzhou watches has reached a higher level at that time.
3. Copper gold-plated writing clock
Features: Made by the famous British clockmaker William, the clock is 231 cm high and has four layers. At the lowest level, there is a robot, who holds a case in one hand and a pen in one hand. Under the spring drive, he can write eight Chinese characters “eight directions, nine earth to the king” flexibly and freely. When writing, the head of the robot is shaken, horizontal, vertical, skimming, holding, meticulous, like a calligrapher.
Value: This clock is not only exquisitely made, but also rich in cultural connotations, demonstrating the highest level of European watchmaking at the time.
4. Copper gold-plated youth sheep clock
Features: Height 93 cm, width 51 cm, thickness 39 cm. The clock is divided into two parts, above which is a bronze statue of a young man leading a sheep. The young man was wearing a long button-down coat, his eyes were bright and he looked ahead, and he was holding a huge goat. Below is the clock body part.
Value: This clock is beautiful and well made, and is one of the representative works of British clocks.
5. Like a chariot watch
Features: About produced in the 18th century, the car is 136 cm long, 72 cm high, and is powered by four sets of clockwork. After starting, the elephant’s eyes, nose, and tail all move. Led by elephants, the chariots rumble along to music, and the soldiers are in high spirits, painting a picture of a triumphant return.
Value: This clock is unique in shape and complex in production, demonstrating the innovative spirit of watch manufacturing at that time.
Watch shows and events
Display time: The clock Museum will hold watch display activities at 11 am and 2 PM every day, and the staff will wind the clock, each display for three minutes. Visitors can take this opportunity to see the clock in action up close.
Visit suggestions: The clock hall is located in the Fengxian Temple of the Forbidden City, it is recommended that tourists visit the Palace Museum, the clock hall as one of the must-visit attractions. At the same time, due to the limited exhibition space, visitors are advised to plan their trip in advance to avoid missing the exhibition time.
