The mortal moment

In the Harem at Topkapi Saray, Istanbul.

Ataturk died at 9.05 am in Istanbul's Dolmabahce Saray. Many historical clocks in Istanbul's museums and monuments are left set at that time in Ataturk's memory.

Note the unusual markings on the clock face and the Turkish words on the small dial above it. The clock was made in London, UK.

"Markwick Markham (recorded 'Behind the Royal Exchange', London) flourished 1725-1805 and specialised in making both musical and ordinary clocks for the Ottoman market and for Russia also. His father, James Markwick Jr. (d. 1730) became Free of the Clockmakers' Company in 1692 and his business succeeded that of Samuel Betts, one of the great early clockmaking pioneers. Markwick Jr. became Master in 1720 and went into partnership with his brother-in-law Robert Markham who succeeded him in the business and carried on trading under the name Markwick Markham. The business was so successful that their name became synonymous with this type of clock.

The 'Turkish' or 'Ottoman' market was a lucrative one and embraced most countries of the Near East, extending to Persia. A tortoiseshell musical clock by Markwick Markham is in the Seraglio Palace, Istanbul (Ord-Hume, p.309). Fine examples of ormolu-mounted tortoiseshell musical table clocks by Markwick Markham can be seen in Barder (p.163) and Ord-Hume (p.25). " (from www.grosvenorfair.co.uk/exhibits/print/47644)