Helena Almeida: 'Seduzir' [To Seduce, 2002] (detail)

Collection

Reloj ojo de buey del patio de la Caja General [Clock in the Main Banking Hall]

Image caption
RAMÓN GARÍN

Reloj ojo de buey del patio de la Caja General [Clock in the Main Banking Hall]

  • c. 1891
  • Wood, metal, glass
  • 135 Ø cm
  • Cat. R_139
  • Comissioned from the artist in 1891
  • Observations: Madrid School. Round wall-mounted.
By:
Amelia Aranda Huete

The four walls of the Main Banking Hall (now the Banco de España library) are made of cast iron openwork, painted white. The clock is fitted to one of these walls.

The circular face of the round wall clock is surrounded by a metal frame, simulating a wooden finish, decorated on the inside with a golden bezel. The face is brass with a layer of white porcelain around which are arranged the Roman numerals. The hands are in patinated metal. The face is inscribed with the name: R. GARIN // MADRID. The face is protected by a circular glass panel.

Amelia Aranda Huete

 
By:
Amelia Aranda Huete
Ramón Garín
Active: Madrid 1891 - Madrid 1918

From 1891-1918, Ramón Garín was a clockmaker in Madrid, whose workshop was located at 23 calle del Príncipe. He specialized in manufacturing and selling precision timepieces. He was the Spanish distributor for the clockmaker David Glasgow, who made the clock for the tower of the Banco de España building. Garín himself made the clock for the Caja Central (main banking hall, now the library) of the Bank and installed another clock by Glasgow in the Santa Cruz School and Orphanage in the town of Carabanchel.

Amelia Aranda Huete