Have you been to Latvia? Probably two out of my three readers have been. Do you know about a place called Pilsrundāle? You can google it, but it will not show you much when it comes to the named town. It will show you, however, a beautiful baroque-style palace that nests close by. When I say it is beautiful, I do mean it is beautiful, magnificent, and royal. Of course, Latvia does not have any royal families, but it once did have dukes. And this particular palace was built for the Dukes of Courland in the 16th century.
My retelling of the history of this place will not do it justice, so please see its official website if you are interested to learn more.
I love this place. The palace itself is breathtaking, the garden is royally beautiful, the museum of Rundāles palace is vast and rich with many interesting and historic pieces. The last time I was there, I was taken by a few particular objects.
By now you should have understood that I like watches, clocks, and the concept of time. You might have read my first OLAAF article about my ROAMER watch, then there is one about my master’s graduation gift – SEIKO; you might also remember the love letter I wrote to SEIKO and my admiration of my good friends TISSOT; and then there are few other watch-themed ones, like this one about cufflinks. So, it may come to you as no surprise that the objects that grabbed my attention at Rundāles palace were clocks. Desk and mantel clocks.
I tried to take photos of everyone I saw. But back then I had an iPhone 7, and its zoom function was not the best. Nevertheless, I did manage to take some good shots. So, I would like to present a few to you. I don’t have a detailed description of these beautiful clocks, but I did note their place of origin, time of creation, and the author.
First one. A French desk clock made in Paris, France by the clockmaker Jean-André Lepaute in the mid-18th century.
The second. A French mantel clock made in Paris, France by the clockmaker Guillaume Gille in the 3rd quarter of the 18th century.
By now you might ask what is so special about 18th century French clocks.
18th-century French clocks were known for their high quality and innovative design. They were often made of brass or bronze and were often ornately decorated with engravings, enamel work, and precious stones.
During the 18th century, French clockmakers were at the forefront of clockmaking technology, and they developed many new and innovative timekeeping mechanisms. For example, Antide Janvier and Pierre Le Roy both worked on the development of the chronometer, a highly accurate timekeeper that was used to determine longitude at sea. Abraham-Louis Breguet is also known for his innovations in clockmaking, such as the development of the successful self-winding perpétuelle watches, the introduction of the gongs for repeating watches, and the first shock-protection for balance pivots.
French clocks of the 18th century were prized for their accuracy and reliability, and they were often used in important public buildings and institutions. They were also popular among the wealthy and fashionable and were often given as gifts to mark special occasions.
The third clock. A French mantel clock made in Paris, France by the clockmaker Jacques Gudin and the bronze caster Robert Osmond in the second half of the 18th century.
The fourth. A French mantel clock made in Paris, France by the clockmaker Pierre Martin in the mid-18th century.
I would say they are quite stunning.
As is everything in this magnificent palace. I have read stories that every year people from the French aristocracy come to Latvia and to Rundāles palace in particular for a visit. After all, how could they not, since in 2021 the French garden of Rundāles Palace won first place in the European Garden Awards in the category Management or Development of a Historic garden or park.
A truly magnificent place. Enormous respect to all people who were and who are still involved in the restoration of Rundāles palace and its upkeeping.
I hope those who have not been able to visit it, will do it at least once in their lifetime.
Kind regards,
Olaaf
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