Watch 1692 - 1693

This watch was made by Edward Orton sometime between 1680 and 1709, but we can't say exactly when. What does it mean that someone created such an intricate object to measure the passage of time? By the late 17th century, England was rapidly developing its economic and political institutions: the Bank of England was founded and the powers of Parliament were expanding. In this cultural context, new technologies and devices, such as this watch, were emerging as status symbols. The elite began to display these objects to show that they could command time itself. But time is also, always, running out. An object like this suggests how newly powerful institutions sought to dominate the rhythms of daily life. It reminds us how art and technology are always entangled with the social conditions of their production. To understand this watch, it is helpful to consider the histories of science, technology, and political theory, all of which can help to interpret the object’s complex cultural significance.