Horloge 1888

Curator: This is an image of an 1888 metal pocket watch, "Horloge," produced by Record Watch Co. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It feels like a very formal object, quite heavy and masculine in its design. The cool metal and the stark face emphasize its utility, it was obviously built to last, to measure time precisely. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: Considering its materiality and mode of production, I see a convergence of skilled labor and industrial processes. The metalwork indicates a craftsman's expertise, while the "Record Watch Co." signature hints at a factory system. We can look at how these elements interplay: the division of labor involved in manufacturing versus the individual artistry expressed in details. How was its physical form linked to the social role the watch would fulfill? Editor: That's fascinating. So, it's not just a tool for telling time, but also an artifact reflecting the specific ways goods were created and distributed at that time. Does the use of metal, specifically, signify anything in this context? Curator: Absolutely. Metal ensured durability and precision, and was connected to specific kinds of resource extraction and processing which fueled industrial growth. Furthermore, consider who possessed these objects. What class or demographic had the means to acquire such timekeeping devices? The photograph itself raises questions about accessibility and circulation. How might the creation of the image, the photograph of the object, change the relationship we have to the original pocket watch? Editor: This has really opened my eyes to seeing everyday objects as reflections of complex economic and social systems! Curator: Indeed, focusing on material culture provides insight into these crucial dynamics that shape the world around us, and our understanding of it.