Iwotshi Yakudala
● Le wotshi yenziwa eTshayina ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-900 eyadlulayo. Ukususela ngoko indlela eyenziwa ngayo iwotshi iye yaphuculwa. Indlela eyenziwa ngayo yaphuculwa ngokuphawulekayo phakathi kwiminyaka yee-1600 xa kwenziwa iwotshi enosiba. Ngenxa yolo siba iiwotshi zalibamba ixesha kwaza kwafakelwa elinye isiba elibala imizuzu. Le wotshi intsha inamasiba nesindayo kwakufuneka yenziwe ngohlobo lokuba ikwazi ukuma nkqo. Zavela ngolo hlobo ke iiwotshi ezinde zakudala ezazibizwa ngabanye abantu ngokuba ziigrandfather clocks yaye enye ingcali yeewotshi ithi “ezi wotshi zazilibamba ixesha nakwezona meko zinzima.”a
Ekuqaleni, ezi wotshi zibizayo zazisenziwa kuphela kwizixeko ezikhulu zaseYurophu njengeLondon neParis. Noko ke, ngokuthe ngcembe ezi wotshi zaligubungela lonke elaseYurophu. Ngoko ke, abenzi beewotshi baqalisa ukuyihombisa le wotshi. Le wotshi yayisenziwa ibe nde okanye igobe; ibhitye okanye ibe banzi. Yayisenziwa ngamaplanga ahlukahlukeneyo ize ihonjiswe. Le wotshi yayingadumanga nje ngenxa yokubamba kwayo ixesha kodwa yayisetyenziswa ukuze kuhonjiswe ngayo endlwini.
Kusenokwenzeka ukuba kukho esinye isizathu esibangela ukuba abantu bayithande le wotshi. Ngandlel’ ithile ifana nomntu. Umphengululi waseFinland uGqr. Sinikka Mäntylä uthi: “Le wotshi ilingana nomntu yaye inobuso.” Isandi sokuhamba kosiba lwayo sifana nesokubetha kwentliziyo. Namhlanje azisasetyenziswa ezi wotshi zinkulu kodwa kusetyenziswa ezincinane ezilibambayo ixesha. Kodwa nakula maxesha kaxakeka, ukubona ezi wotshi zindala kusenza sibe noxolo lwengqondo. Incwadi ethi Keeping Time—Collecting and Caring for Clocks ithi: “Le wotshi inde etsho ngosiba olubetha kancinane ikukhumbuza amaxesha amandulo oxolo.”
[Umbhalo osemazantsi]
a Kuthiwa igama elithi grandfather clock, njengoko zibizwa njalo kwamanye amazwe ezi wotshi zinde, lathathwa kwingoma yowe-1876 eyayinomxholo othi “My Grandfather’s Clock.”
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 19]
Iwotshi yangasekuqaleni kweminyaka yee-1800