INITIATIVES AND CONFERENCE
The enhancement process of the Montecarottese Watchmaking School initiated by the historical research group and the previous municipal administrations, culminated in 2020 in a structured project by the Municipal Administration.
The project led to the formation of a working group that coordinated the historical research, writing and edition of the volume “The Montecarottese Watchmaking School: an artisan excellence between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries”, and the organization of the conference “Tower clocks : from Europe to the Montecarottese School “.
The conference, initially scheduled for November 28th, 2020 in the Municipal Theater of Montecarotto, was transformed into an online conference due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which was recorded and broadcast online.
The theme of measuring time and of all the solutions adopted in history to mark times and rhythms, then leads to consider those complex technologies constituted by mechanical watches, which since 1300 have affected all of Europe but in particular Italy, up to the sophisticated movements made by the craftsmen of the Montecarottese Watchmaking School between 1800 and 1900. In fact, the watches of Pietro Mei, Antonio Galli and Edoardo Marconi, master watchmakers of Montecarotto, embellish the towers and bell towers of many towns and cities in the Marche and central Italy, and they still mark the passage of time today, representing a level of great quality and value achieved not only locally but nationally and internationally.
The nine speakers of the conference include technical experts, scholars and restorers, historical research passionates and heirs of some of the important Italian watchmaking schools.
In particular: Marisa Addomine, historian of watchmaking, Honorary Inspector of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Chris McKay, leading English expert in watchmaking and curator of the Big Ben clock in London, Mario Arnaldi and Paolo Basilici, scholars of gnomonics and time measurement in every era, Sauro Corinaldi watchmaker and restorer of the most important mechanical watches in the Marche, Pino Solari of the homonymous watchmaking company, active since 1700, Giulio Gagliardini descendant of the master watchmaker Edoardo Marconi, as well as Pietro Sebastianelli and Paolo Febo, Montecarotto enthusiasts of historical research, original promoters of this project.
THE CONFERENCE AND THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE SPEAKERS
COMPETITION OF DESIGN AND GREETINGS
MARIO ARNALDI
PAOLO BASILICI
PINO SOLARI
MARISA ADDOMINE
PIETRO SEBASTIANELLI
PAOLO FEBO
CHRIS MCKAY
SAURO CORINALDI
GIULIO GAGLIARDINI
CONCORSO DI DESIGN E SALUTI
THE INITIATIVES
This conference represents the culmination of a series of enhancement initiatives promoted by the Municipality of Montecarotto and supported by the Department of Culture of the Marche Region in 2020.
Among these, the publication of the volume of the proceedings of the conference “The Montecarottese Watchmaking School, an artisan excellence between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries”, available for purchase at the Municipality of Montecarotto, the creation of this website that collects useful information for tourists and visitors but also research and dissemination materials on Montecarotto treasures, namely clocks, organs and Verdicchio wine. In addition, among other enhancement actions, during the preparation of the book and the conference, a competition of ideas was also launched for the design of the logo of the Montecarottese Watchmaking School and tourist signage, which would welcome tourists and visitors to “Montecarotto, village of watchmakers and organ builders, land of Verdicchio “. the competition was attended by many local designers and students, who contributed with their precious vision and professionalism to make the identity of the Watchmaking School distinguishable and recognizable and to enhance the history and excellence of Montecarotto.
The book is available at the Municipality of Montecarotto
To contact the organizing committee and the authors contact
orologiai.montecarotto@gmail.com
