Denseman on the Rattis

Formerly known as the Widmann Blog

cultureenhistory

Clock design



09-08-04 (23)
Originally uploaded by PhylB

They have this wonderful clock in the Duomo of Florence.

It’s clearly from before clock design was standardised.

These days we take it for granted that analogue clocks are divided into 12 hours, counting from midnight and noon, starting from the top and moving clockwise round the circle.

But this clock demonstrates that none of these design decisions are natural or obvious.

The duomo clock is divided into 24 hours, counting from sunset, starting from the bottom, and moving anti-clockwise round the circle.

Just as easy and natural, but these days it looks very, very alien.

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