002.135.Idrija

Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Centre, Bazoviška 2, SI-5280 Idrija

Public

Republic of Slovenia

/

Mine

The death clock is a square wooden board which has a table with numbers from 1 to 490 on it. Each number is equipped with a simple small L-shaped hook. Round metal plates – “markice” are hung on it. Each plate has a miner’s registration number engraved on the front side.

Length 99 cm, width 2 cm, height 85 cm.

Wood, steel

The beginning of the 19th century

Manufacturer information is not known

Before entering the pit, the miners gathered in the call room, a part of the entrance building of the individual shaft. The Idrija Mercury Mine has a history of pit accidents, in which a large number of miners lost their lives. Therefore, the wooden board with marks in the call room was called the death clock. The death clock with its marks, served as a control system and identification system for miners’ presence in the pit and their safe return from the pit. Each miner took his mark with an identification number from the death clock and hung it back after his shift. If a mark was missing, they started rescuing the missing miner. If a miner forgot to hang his mark, and the rescuing mission was unjustified, he was sanctioned.

The death clock with marks is being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. It is a part of the CUDHg mining collection. Visitors can view it within the permanent museum display Anthony's Main Road. It is a part of the presentation in the call room of the entrance building Šelštve, where the miners gathered before entering the Idrija pit.

The call room of the Idrija Mercury Mine

Anthony’s Main Road (The call room), Kosovelova 3, SI-5280 Idrija

The death clock with marks is well preserved. Therefore, no additional interventions are necessary. Security of the premises is ensured.

good

Regular seasonal maintenance.

- CUDHg Inventory Book.

Mestni muzej Idrija

Miha Kosmač

5. 3. 2018

Never