In Friday’s Child, Hero is given by one of her husband’s friends an ormolu clock. I always had a specific picture in my brain of what it looked like, but I had never done much research into what an ormolu clock actually is.
Ormolu (/ˈɔːrməluː/; from French or moulu, “ground/pounded gold”) is the technique of gilding whereby application of finely ground, high-carat gold–mercury amalgam to an object of bronze is made to give it the gilt look. This was a style that began in the 18th century, and continued its popularity into the Regency era.
Mercury was used during the process, which started to raise health concerns in 1830 with some legislation, reducing the popularity and ubiquity of the ormolu clock.
There are a variety of different ormolu clock styles, and the method was used to other objects, as well.
I’m curious, what did you actually picture in your brain when you thought of an Ormolu clock? Seeing the picture and reading the definition here I had to go look up Ormolu clocks. From what I could glean the antiques are in plentiful supply, assuming people are less interested in the ornate style these days. And for a tidy sum no less.
Anyway, they didn’t match my idea either. Sometime in the past I looked up a certain clock design after reading it in a story and thereafter, goodness knows why, (sheer historical ignorance I’m sure) I always pictured a different kind of item when I read Ormolu. It took me longer to find what I was looking for. I had mixed up or combined Ormolu with Shagreen and was picturing Shagreen, the two things being quite different from each other. I blame the fact that I didn’t have ready access to Google back then. (Ha. Laughing at myself!) Actually, I think I had just started reading historical fiction/romance and was looking up a lot of things.
Thanks for this post, it made my go down that fun/dreaded ‘rabbit hole.’ That’s high praise for you.
I am so glad you asked this question! Every time I re-read Friday’s Child and the Ormolu clock was mentioned, I honestly pictured a mantle clock but that was wooden. I am sure it was an association from my childhood of seeing an antique wooden mantle clock…and I had meant for years to actually go look up what an Ormolu clock looked like but never did. I think I probably need to be better about reading with a pad and pen to write down the things I want to look up, because its easy to move beyond once you reach “The End.” Even with Google now at our fingertips, its easy to forget what you intended to research.
I can’t remember what made me think about the Ormolu clock recently, I think it was probably a brain worm niggling at me to finally go investigate something I was sure I didn’t actually have the right image in my mind for. And I was surprised (although in hindsight, I shouldn’t have been), to realize it was the ornate metal style…mostly because at one point I think Hero is lugging around her clock.
Its so nice to discover other historical fiction and romance readers that fall into rabbit holes (and I indeed take that as high praise, being prone to following bread crumbs myself). These rabbit holes are often how I generate content, and I am so thrilled when other people are interested in them too, so thanks for your comment.