International watch museum
The International Watch Museum ( French Musée international d'horlogerie , abbreviated MIH ) is a museum in the Swiss city of La Chaux-de-Fonds .
history
The underground structure was erected in the early 1970s and is surrounded by a park, in which a carillon was set up in 1980 . The clock museum is owned by the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds and is listed as a national treasure .
exhibition
The museum is dedicated to the history of timing devices. Naturally, it contains numerous exhibits from Switzerland, such as an organ clock by Pierre Jaquet-Droz , one of the first ship chronometers by Ferdinand Berthoud , several works by Abraham Louis Breguet and an overview of the history of the Neuchâtel pendulum clock . In addition, Comtoise watches and other examples from the workshop of French masters such as Antide Janvier can also be seen. A replica of the Astrarium , one of the first examples of an astronomical clock, is on display by Giovanni Dondi .
The museum displays more than 4,500 pieces, including 2,700 clocks and around 700 wall clocks.
Restoration center
The Center de restauration en horlogerie ancienne ( Center de restauration en horlogerie ancienne ) carries out conservation and restoration work on the museum collections and occasionally for private individuals.
Research Center
The research center “Man and Time” ( Center d'études L'Homme et le Temps ) stores documents and archives related to timekeeping and watchmaking. The institute is available to researchers and library users of the museum.
literature
- Collections du Musée International d'Horlogerie La Chaux-de-Fonds, Suisse. Une sélection parmi 3100 objets. Exhibition catalogs of the Musée International d'Horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds 1974.
- Catherine Cardinal: Clocks in History, Art and Science. Masterpieces from the International Watch Museum in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Lausanne 1984.
- Catherine Cardinal, François Mercier: Musées d'horlogerie: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle. Zurich 1993.
- Catherine Cardinal, Jean-Michel Piguet: Selection catalog: Institut L'Homme et le Temps et Musée International d'Horlogerie. La Chaux-de-Fonds 2002.
Web links
- Literature from and about the International Clock Museum in the catalog of the German National Library
- Museum website (French)
- More clock museums
Individual evidence
Coordinates: 47 ° 6 '2.9 " N , 6 ° 49' 48.4" E ; CH1903: 553805 / 216824