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W poszukiwaniu straconego czasu… Kilka słów o kluczykach do zegarków kieszonkowych z wykopalisk na placu Stary Rynek w Słupsku

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Wołyńska M.

Pomorania Antiqua

2021

vol. Tom XXX

s. 87-102

Among finds that were discovered in the course of archaeological works related to the revitalisation of the Old Market Square in Puck there were also metal artefacts of exhibition value. An assemblage of five pocket watch winding keys was classified as personal belongings. A reason behind discussing such artefacts is a poor recognition of artefacts of this kind, which is confirmed by few and erroneous mentions in archaeological literature. In these circumstances, a chapter ‘Pocket watch keys as miniature works of art’ in a work by Professor Krzysztof Maciej Kowalski, a historian of material culture, was of help in processing of the acquired finds. What also proved useful was a digital version of a catalogue of archaeological finds ‘Amsterdam STUFF’ (2018) by Jerzy Gawroński and Peter Kranendonk. An introduction to the analysis of the assemblage is a brief history of pocket watches. These were artefacts which combined utilitarian and aesthetic aspects, and demonstrated the prestige of their owners. Similar functions can be attributed to keys. An overview of these artefacts demonstrates stylistic changes that can be clearly seen even in such a small assemblage. These changes led to a simplification of their bows. On the basis of analogies and the find context, three artefacts from Słupsk (Fig. 6:1, 2, 4) were generally dated to the 18th-19th c. The chronology of one of these (Fig. 6:3) was narrowed down to the years 1775-1850, while an unornamented key was classified as a 19th c. artefact. On the other hand, difficulties in provenance assessment of the finds were encountered. It must be noted that pocket watch winding keys are inconspicuous artefacts that were lost or became damaged and were then abandoned by their owners. However, they are also a material manifestation of significant social and mental changes provoked by the spread of mechanical watches.

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1 Pomorania Antiqua

1 Wołyńska M.

1 2021

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W poszukiwaniu straconego czasu… Kilka słów o kluczykach do zegarków kieszonkowych z wykopalisk na placu Stary Rynek w Słupsku