Commissioned for exhibition at The Bowes Museum, these intricately handmade sculptures, created by artist Kate Ive, are inspired by two delicately engraved pocket watches. They hang side-by-side in the Bowes Museum, belonging to its founders John & Joséphine Bowes. Kate researched ‘time’ within the museum and how historic objects maintain their relevance in an ever-changing world.

These two experimental pieces that stand together, translate the pocket watch dials and the museum’s stopped clocks into hand cut geometric patterns. As a result these handmade geometric carved patterns are embedded into the surface of the work. Therefore they capture the time’s within the museum.

Kate cross-purposes techniques old and new, showing these artworks at different stages of production. As such these two pieces are displayed as carved wax and copper-formed sculptures ready for plating in 24k gold.

‘John & Joséphine’s Timepieces’ uniquely reanimate and record time within the museum; breathing new life into its watches and stopped clocks.