Maltese clock
This traditional clock which forms part of our Maltese folk dates back to the 17th century, Apart from the normal use of a clock this particular clock is also to décor houses especially with houses of a traditional style and look. This clock was only hung in wall of corridors or halls and also in use of corridors in public places as well they were found in some Maltese churches.
Usually this clock can be defined as a true and not a replica by seeing the carving on the wooden frame and the high quality machinery inside the clock. There is need of 2 people to finish this product a clockmaker ,carpenter and the gilder painter, the carpenter takes care of finishing the wooden case the clock maker takes care of the machinery and the glinder painter takes care of the finishing of the clock. The Maltese clock is also know as ‘tal-lira’ which is named after our previous Maltese currency the ‘lira’ this name took place also because this clock was being sold for just only a ‘lira’ which didn’t really make sense knowing the fact that 3 qualified artisans contributed for a very small amount of money. This name is said to be labelled to our famous clock by our ancestors which would call it ‘tal-lira’ clock not because of the expense or cost of the Maltese clock. The Maltese clock is so beautiful because of his characteristics such as the wooden frame the two doors we find both in and outside this clock and the famous traditional clock face. On the face of the clock you find only two hands for the hour mark and the minute mark this clock does not have the second hand on it’s face which was made by a purpose to keep the traditional look from it’s face. What is interesting as well in this clock is that you find the corners usually decorated with floral painting and patterns with gild. This clock was not mass produced by real artisans but only produced this to their customers, customers had different quires on how they would like their clock to look but even if this clock changed a bit for certain customers it usually changed in colour not design so to keep the tradition going.
This traditional clock which forms part of our Maltese folk dates back to the 17th century, Apart from the normal use of a clock this particular clock is also to décor houses especially with houses of a traditional style and look. This clock was only hung in wall of corridors or halls and also in use of corridors in public places as well they were found in some Maltese churches.
Usually this clock can be defined as a true and not a replica by seeing the carving on the wooden frame and the high quality machinery inside the clock. There is need of 2 people to finish this product a clockmaker ,carpenter and the gilder painter, the carpenter takes care of finishing the wooden case the clock maker takes care of the machinery and the glinder painter takes care of the finishing of the clock. The Maltese clock is also know as ‘tal-lira’ which is named after our previous Maltese currency the ‘lira’ this name took place also because this clock was being sold for just only a ‘lira’ which didn’t really make sense knowing the fact that 3 qualified artisans contributed for a very small amount of money. This name is said to be labelled to our famous clock by our ancestors which would call it ‘tal-lira’ clock not because of the expense or cost of the Maltese clock. The Maltese clock is so beautiful because of his characteristics such as the wooden frame the two doors we find both in and outside this clock and the famous traditional clock face. On the face of the clock you find only two hands for the hour mark and the minute mark this clock does not have the second hand on it’s face which was made by a purpose to keep the traditional look from it’s face. What is interesting as well in this clock is that you find the corners usually decorated with floral painting and patterns with gild. This clock was not mass produced by real artisans but only produced this to their customers, customers had different quires on how they would like their clock to look but even if this clock changed a bit for certain customers it usually changed in colour not design so to keep the tradition going.
In the middile of the hands dial you usually find a small
hand painting which their you usually find a landscape of our attraction
villages in Malta such as Marsaxlokk, Mdina or Valletta. This clock’s face has
a part which is inspired by the Romans and us the Maltese decided to include
the Roman numbers to a very important area in our traditional clock.
Nowadays these clocks are very popular but also very expensive to find many replicas are still being crafted today, the charateristics of this clock is what makes it unique and I hope we keep this tradition going cause it is a big hounor for us to have our own Maltese clock.
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References:
https://artofgilding.wordpress.com/malteseclock/
Maltese Clock | The Art of Gilding. 2015. Maltese Clock | The Art of Gilding. [ONLINE] Available at: https://artofgilding.wordpress.com/malteseclock/. [Accessed 16 May 2015].
Nowadays these clocks are very popular but also very expensive to find many replicas are still being crafted today, the charateristics of this clock is what makes it unique and I hope we keep this tradition going cause it is a big hounor for us to have our own Maltese clock.
#
References:
https://artofgilding.wordpress.com/malteseclock/
Maltese Clock | The Art of Gilding. 2015. Maltese Clock | The Art of Gilding. [ONLINE] Available at: https://artofgilding.wordpress.com/malteseclock/. [Accessed 16 May 2015].
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