November 13, 2009
The second lecture in a series organised by Palazzo Falson in conjunction with Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti was held on the 11th November 2009. David Thompson, who delivered the lecture titled '500 years of the watch' to a packed audience, is curator of Horology at the British Museum. He was in Malta on the invitation of Palazzo Falson to examine its watch collection, which includes the absolutely rare Robert Robin decimal time watch. The results of his study will be published in a forthcoming book which will feature a study on each of the principal collections of Palazzo Falson.
David Thompson first trained as a clock and watchmaker and then went on to work in the Horological section of the British Museum where he has been for the past 30 years. He became Curator of Horology in 1995. He has specialized in watchmaking in the 16th and 17th centuries and is the author of 3 books as well as several studies in specialist publications. David Thompson is a Fellow of the British Horological Institute, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and a Council Member of the Antiquarian Horological Society. He regularly lectures in Horological History at West Dean College. In 2008 he oversaw the re-appraisal and total re-organisation of the Watch and Clock Gallery at the British Museum.
A recording of David Thompson's lecture '500 years of the watch' will be available for download on this website soon.
