Jean Pierre Latz
French, c. 1691­1754
Wall clock (pendule en cartel)
1735­40
Oak veneered with tortoiseshell and kingwood, 
brass inlay, gilt bronze, glass; musical movement
147.3 x 52.3 x 36.4 cm
Ada Turnbull Hertle Fund, 1975.172a-b

This elaborate eight-day wall clock not only tells the time on its largest dial, but plays six tunes. The complicated movements were made by Francis Bayly, and the richly ornamented case by Jean-Pierre Latz, furniture-maker to the king of France.

Apollo, god of the sun and of music, kneels atop the case. Carefully aiming an arrow, he is about to slay the dragon-like serpent crawling from his cave below. What light did people use to read the time on this clock at night? The answer is on either side of the clock.