News To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of its current building, the International Museum of Horology (MIH) presents an exhibition in forty stages tracing events that have unfolded over the past four decades.
Ln 1968, the decision to build a new museum dedicated to the leading industry in La Chaux de-Fonds - watchmaking - took a step towards becoming a reality when the architectural design competition was launched. The Gnomon project, led by architects Georges-J. Haefeli and Pierre Zoelly, won the competition with an outstanding work of architecture. Winner of the Prix Béton for concrete architecture in 1977 and the European Museum of the Year award in 1978 (distinction awarded by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg), the marriage of museum and architecture was a success!
To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of this building, the curators wanted to show the result of the scientific work which enabled the original collection to increase by some 5’000 artifacts during that time. Forty steps in the process reveal some of these 5’000 objects. Whether a donation or a purchase, each of these objects, in addition to its technical, scientific or artistic merit, unveils a more personal facet of its history.
This themed exhibition highlights several aspects which are indissociable from the history of the building and its collections. The construction first, followed by the bodies supporting the museum, such as the Maurice Favre Foundation which enabled its creation or the amisMIH who, through their donations, enable the purchase of collection pieces.
For example, a patron who always gives support for a specific purchase when needed; collectors who are often approached with the aim of completing the collection; and a presentation of an as-yet unwritten chapter on the collection of the future; donations from watchmaking companies of timepieces which will provide a window on the watchmaking of today. Finally, it is also the focus of the individual curators of the last forty years that will be showcased here.
1974: a museography to enhance the collection
The museographic installation, created by Mr Bataillard, Mr Tcherdyne and Mr Gallopini at the International Museum of Horology is in perfect harmony with the building’s architectural design. Ln this underground museum, the spherical display cases rising up out of the ground and hanging from the ceiling are reminiscent of stalagmites and stalactites and accentuate what has been described by four decades of visitors as a «cave of wonders».
The «Musée en mutation» (museum transformation) project to modify the building’s museography, which has been under way since 2006, aims to preserve the magic of the period features and the museum’s architectural design from 1974. This year will see the completion of this museographic redevelopment.
An exhibition in the museum
ln order to showcase the building and its collections, the museum has chosen to display 40 objects or groups of objects from the collection, which will emphasize key moments in its expansion. Each one remains in its original location, which encourages visitors to discover the whole museum.
The thematic exhibition: 1,019 alarm clocks
Banal, simple and familiar to everyone… in this exhibit, the sheer number of alarm clocks gives them an unexpected dimension. The most popular clock - every home has one! From the mid-19th century, the alarm clock became an essential item in the daily lives of millions of workers and employees.
This unique collection includes alarm clocks made mainly in France, Germany and the United States and was acquired from a passionate collector. The addition of alarm clocks has completed this collection with a type of clock rarely seen in museum collections.
The Maurice Favre Foundation (FMF)
Created in honour of the former curator of the watchmaking and history museums, Maurice Favre (1888-1961), it was in fact thanks to three influential residents of La Chaux-de-Fonds that the foundation’s charter was signed on 30th June 1967.
Maurice Ditisheim, president of the lnspectorate of precious metal artefacts, Pierre lmhof, president of the Watchmaking Museum Commission and Jacques Cornu, secretary-general of the employer’s union of watchmakers and first president of the Foundation, hereby announced that its goal would be to: construct a building worthy of the collections and of the city.
From this time, the FMF managed the entire project: it decided to build the new museum in the Parc du Musée to highlight the three main cultural aspects, drew up the rules for the architectural design competition, selected a jury and undertook an active role in raising funds.
Since 1967, the Foundation has continuously supported the Museum’s major projects, such as the carillon designed for the opening in 1974 and created in 1980. The Foundation currently manages the funds donated by the amisMIH (friends of the museum) to allow the purchase of pieces for its collections.
LES amisMIH (Friends of MIH)
With the inauguration of the carillon on 31st May 1980, the project to construct the MIH was achieved in full. Lt was also on this date that the creation of an association of friends of the museum was announced, which would take over the reins from the Maurice Favre Foundation. The main aim of this association would be to help extend the collections.
From 1981, the amisMIH presided over the traditional presentation evening for the past year’s donations and purchases. From this time, the number of friends has continued to increase, thanks to the tireless work of successive presidents and the committee to find corporate and private sponsors.
The majority of key purchases were made possible thanks to their financial support; these acquisitions have been specially highlighted in the museum’s presentation.
A few years ago, the amisMIH decided to extend their activities beyond the purchase of collection items and support the museum in other projects, such as the creation of a DVD, support for exhibitions and the establishment of conferences.
David Newsom: friend and patron of the museum
David Newsom, a collector and horology enthusiast who lives in the United States, is a fervent admirer of the International Watchmaking Museum. For over a decade, his regular financial contributions have enabled the purchase of exceptional watches and clocks, most importantly at auctions. Precision clocks, watches with special technical or decorative features, tools and machines, plans… his support led to over forty items being integrated into the museum’s collections, filling a number of gaps. His input and support was crucial during the organization of the exhibition «Philadelphia 1876, le défi américain en horlogerie» (The American Challenge in Watchmaking), held at the MIH in 2012.
Gerd Ahrens (1920 - 2005): an exceptional collector
Born in Hamburg on the 18th September 1920, Gerd Ahrens was initiated into the world of watchmaking at a young age by his father, Otto Ahrens, alongside whom he carried out his apprenticeship in the family watchmaking business which opened in Lucerne in 1929.
ln 1948, he purchased his first collector’s watch from the Galerie Fischer in Lucerne, a Breguet pocket watch, first sold in 1848, equipped with a pierced pin-pallet escapement. From then until 2004, when he purchased his last watch, Gerd Ahrens amassed a collection of more than 750 watches, most of a highly technical nature; he was most interested in watches featuring special escapements, and in chronometers and tourbillons.
He passed away in 2005 and his collection was sold at auction, where the International Watchmaking Museum, with the help of a patron, was able to purchase ten very interesting pieces, as well as the workbench which Gerd Ahrens used to study and restore his own watches.
Last year, in 2013, the family of Gerd Ahrens bequeathed to the museum the personal archives that he built up in connection with his collection, in addition to around thirty watches which have helped expand the museum’s collections.
1974 - 1987: André Curtit
André Curtit, a teacher at the Technicum Neuchâtelois watchmaking school, was the first full-time professional curator at the International Watchmaking Museum of La Chaux-de-Fonds which, from 1966 onwards, was housed within the walls of the Technical School. Before this time, the chairman of the museum would take on the role of curator. The twin forces of a curator and a chairman, Pierre lmhof, provided the impetus required to start building a specific museum dedicated to horology.
From 1968, the International Watchmaking Museum (and the Homme et le Temps research institute) started to take shape. But it was only from November 1974 that the work of André Curtit and his colleagues could be admired. The new premises and the museography combined to showcase the techniques and art of watchmakers so dear to the curator.
1988 - 2000: Catherine Cardinal
After studying in Paris, where she obtained a doctorat in art history, and a stint at the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts (CNAM), Catherine Cardinal was appointed as curator of the International Watchmaking Museum in 1988. Her primary interest is the inventors of watchmaking, who were showcased in a range of exhibitions devoted, for example, to Ferdinand Berthoud, (1984), which she curated, to Charles-Edouard Guillaume (1988), and to Abraham-Louis Breguet (1997), each accompanied by a publication.
2000 - 2014: regards croisés
Ludwig Oechslin: our collections contribute equally to the world of human understanding, the spirit of dialogue and the pleasure of discovery. They pay tribute to the creations, research and aspirations of generations of watchmakers and industrialists. They are open to the general public, whilst offering specialists content with high history and scientific value.
Nicole Bosshart: the MIH collection has its roots in the 19th century, started by enlightened persons from the educational and industrial watchmaking sectors; it is our duty to complete it respectfully and consistently.
Jean-Michel Piguet: one of the roles of the MIH is to build up and present to the public a collection of objects which combine art and technology, and which thereby highlight the ingenuity and work of watchmakers throughout the centuries.
The collection of the future
The International Watchmaking Museum has asked watch companies to donate contemporary pieces in a move to conserve these items which, in addition to being technical, fashion or prestige items, are part of the heritage and could provide a window for future generations into the ingenuity and artistic endeavors of the experts of today. More than thirty companies responded to the museum’s request, and on 20th March 2014, 44 timepieces were added to the collection.
The exhibition «Time Sweet Time: 40 ans… 40 témoins» is opened until the 11th January 2015.
April 15, 2014
