The Palace Museum’s holdings of timepieces reflect the flourishing age of Chinese and Western cultural exchange during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). Over 1,500 Chinese and European timepieces ranging from the seventeenth to twentieth century constitute the collection. These holdings also include over 700 scientific instruments manufactured in England, France, and the Qing palace workshops that date from the early-Qing to late-Qing periods. The collection encompasses a wide range of period instruments from fields such as astronomy, mathematics, and earth sciences. Frequently used in Qing palace affairs, these instruments reflect technological exchange and development within the imperial establishment.