Stories and myths have always been passed down from generation to generation, both orally and in writing. They help each generation to understand, structure and organise the habitat.
They speak of human emotions – of love and hope, but also of chaos and war. Every generation draws on them or even creates new ones. However, they spread not only through literature, but also through all manner of art forms and crafts.
The French bronze clocks in the current exhibition ‘Von Mythen und Geschichten’ also bear witness to this phenomenon. They were all made at the beginning of the 19th century and refer to Greek and Roman antiquity.
People of that time were well acquainted with the stories from the age of gods and heroes, and each group of motifs had its own meaning. Thus, the choice of the depicted myth already determined the function and atmosphere the clock was intended to evoke.
However, this effect can only be realised if the viewer can interpret the story. The exhibition aims to bring these stories back to life and thus give visitors access to the splendid clocks.