The FHH presents “The Mastery of Time” exhibition at the Biennale des Antiquaires
Open Gallery
Portable sundial, Pierre LeMaire, Paris, early 18th Century.
Musée International de l’Horlogerie (MIH), La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland © Dominique Cohas / Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, Genève Suisse
Open Gallery
Rubidium atomic clock , Temex
Neuchâtel Time S.A., 1995.
Collection of Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle - Château des Monts, Le Locle, Switzerland
© Dominique Cohas / Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, Genève Suisse
Open Gallery
Convertible bracelet watch,
Waltham , USA, 1915.
Musée International de l’Horlogerie (MIH), La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
© Dominique Cohas / Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, Genève Suisse
Curated by the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, “The Mastery of Time” exhibition, which traces the history of time measurement from its origins to the present day, travels to the Grand Palais in Paris for the Biennale des Antiquaires, this coming September 10th to 18th. In an exclusive presentation, some one hundred clocks and watches, loaned by the Foundation’s 26 partner-brands, demonstrations of watchmaking’s métiers d’art and an original virtual reality experience await visitors.
For the first time, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie is showing one of its major exhibitions at the Biennale des Antiquaires. Over eight days, against the backdrop of the Grand Palais, “The Mastery of Time” delivers centuries of history to admirers of fine horological mechanics and reveals to them the skills and techniques within the art of watchmaking. Unique expertise, innovations and the synergies between the different professions are conveyed through an original scenography in three parts: an exhibition of timepieces on loan from foremost museums and the Foundation’s 26 partner-brands, workbench demonstrations by artisans and watchmakers, and a virtual reality experience. They make up the stages in a fascinating discovery of the measurement of time.
Some one hundred historically significant timepieces illustrate the constant ingenuity deployed over the centuries in order to conquer our temporal environment.
The exhibition will immerse visitors in the pivotal moments of this incessant quest to capture time. Together they show the major creations and different stages of development which have made time measurement one of Man’s greatest achievements, as well as a fabulous canvas for the métiers d’art.
A watchmaker, an enameller, an engraver, a gem-setter and a jeweller will show off their fascinating skills with workbench demonstrations. These extraordinary and talented artists perpetuate noble crafts, some of which have all but disappeared.
Through them, visitors will grasp the full significance of the term “Haute Horlogerie” as the sum of many talents and a complex discipline which calls equally on manual skill and a creative mind to rise to the most extraordinary challenges. A virtual reality experience provides a complete immersion in the life of a nineteenth-century watch-wearer and provides an entertaining conclusion to an exhibition that spans past, present and future.
From sundials to contemporary complicated mechanisms, the Grand Palais will come alive with this evocation of some of the milestones in the “Mastery of Time”. This is a unique opportunity for horology to be part of the Biennale des Antiquaires, a foremost gathering which from 2017 becomes an annual event. This twenty-eighth edition will feature 125 exhibitors from 14 countries.
