Neįminta laikrodžio istorijos mįslė

LTStraipsnyje aprašomas itin retas XIX a. vidurio porcelianinis Meiseno karališkosios manufaktūros laikrodis su Abiejų Tautų Respublikos herbu. Šių laikrodžių buvo pagaminta tik keletas vienetų. Nagrinėjant temą, kyla klausimas: kokia proga buvo pagaminti šie laikrodžiai? Abiejų Tautų Respublikos gyvavimas baigėsi po paskutinės carinės Rusijos padalijimo XVIII a. pabaigoje. Taigi, kam ir kodėl kilo mintis atgaivinti prisiminimus apie nebeegzistuojančią valstybę? Straipsnyje bandoma atsakyti į šiuos klausimus. Reikšminiai žodžiai: Abiejų Tautų Respublika, herbas, porcelianinis laikrodis, Meiseno karališkoji manufaktūra, Lietuvos Vytis.

ENThe collection of clocks and watches of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art was supplemented with a new, very valuable and rare exhibit – a porcelain Rococo style clock. It is valuable in that it is decorated with the coat of arms of the Republic of the Two Nations, which features Vytis of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Eagles of the Kingdom of Poland. The funds of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art had not yet had such an exhibit. The clock was purchased in the summer of 2018 from a private person's collection in Vilnius. It is a fireplace clock made of separate parts of white porcelain, which are hand-decorated with enamel and attached to the clock case. Its front is decorated with the coat of arms of the Republic of the Two Nations. Clocks with such coat of arms began to be marked during the reign of Augustus II the Strong (1670–1733), when this Saxon prince-elector was elected the King of the Republic of the Two Nations in 1697. This porcelain clock with amazing grace and colour is made at the Royal Manufactory of Meissen, founded in 1710. The manufactory is famous for the excellent quality of porcelain products. The sign of the Royal Meissen Manufactory – “Blue Crossed Swords” – is painted on the base of the clock. All parts of the porcelain clock are moulded and painted by hand. The model of such a clock was created in the 18th century by manufactory modellers Johann Joachim Kaendler (or Kändler) and Johann Friedrich Eberlein.The clock exhibited in the Clock and Watch Museum was made a little later, around the end of the 19th century. The mechanism of this watch has the inscription “Lenzkirch”. This is the name of the clock manufacturing company where this clock mechanism was manufactured. The “Lenzkirch” company was founded in 1851 in Lenzkirch village of Baden, Germany, and worked until 1932. Based on the Meissen manufactory product model number “452” and the modification of the sign of the crossed swords as well as the inscription on the mechanism of the clock, it was concluded that this clock was manufactured in the Meissen porcelain manufactory between 1850 and 1924. It is believed that the clock was made according to a special order to commemorate an important or jubilee date of the Republic of the Two Nations. Maybe it could have been made in 1869 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Union of Lublin (after the signing of the Lithuanian-Polish Union, the Republic of the Two Nations was formed)? Due to colourful modelled flowers, figures, and creatures of classical mythology, the clock is a great work of Rococo decorative, applied art. This well-preserved, uniquely designed porcelain clock is currently on display at Klaipėda Clock and Watch Museum.