Clocks and time

"Over the centuries, clocks have played an important role here at the palace – both for keeping time and as decorative objects. Not only is an excellent clock a work of technical mastery, it is also a thing of beauty to see. And sometimes to hear, too!"

"Hearing all the palace's clocks strike twelve at the same moment is a fascinating experience. I have thought so from an early age. So perhaps it will come as no surprise that clocks and clockmaking have been a great personal interest of mine!"

Quotation from The King's opening speech for the exhibition.

FROM THE COLLECTIONS

You can see and read more about a selection of clocks from the collections, as presented on the Archives pages, via the slideshow above.

FROM HISTORY

The collections include clocks from the late 16th century to the present day. The oldest examples were mechanical sensations, which often had amusing details and were like automata. The role of practical timekeeper began in the second half of the 17th century, when the first working pendulum was created. See a graph showing the development of the clock (In Swedish). Pdf, 712.3 kB.

A ROYAL COMMISSION

Watch the classic SVT programme "På kungligt uppdrag External link." ("A Royal Commission") about Philip Jansson, Court Clockmaker from 1983 until 1995. (In Swedish.)

VISIT the royal palace

See the clocks in situ in the Royal Apartments. The Royal Palace is normally open daily. Every Friday, all year round, around 80 clocks are wound. Watch a film about the current Court Clockmaker in the column to the right.

The film follows Court Clockmaker Sophia Reuterdahl as she makes her Friday rounds of the palace. She is responsible for ensuring that the clocks not only keep running but also tell the right time. With English subtitles.

During the exhibition's opening ceremony, the Royal Court Orchestra's string quartet performed The Clock, Andante from Symphony no. 101 by Joseph Haydn, and a choir sang Klinga Mina Klockor by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.