Horloge van goud

About this artwork

Gouden horloge met wit geëmailleerde wijzerplaat. De twaalfhoekige kast is geëmailleerd in grisaille, met een herderin met twee schapen bij een vaas. Getekend: Breguet à Paris, maar waarschijnlijk een eigentijdse Zwitserse vervalsing.

Art Historical Context

**Horloge van goud (Golden Watch)** *ca. 1800, Breguet & Filslikely Swiss forgery), Gold with enamel* Step into the elegance of early 19th-century luxury with this exquisite golden pocket watch, a petite treasure measuring just 4.6 cm in diameter and 6. cm high. Its twelve-sided case gleams with grisaille enamel—a sophisticated monochrome technique in shades of gray—depicting a serene shepherdess tending two sheep beside a classical vase. The white enameled dial adds crisp clarity, signed "Breguet à Paris," evoking the pinnacle of French horology. Abraham-Louis Breguet & Fils revolutionized watchmaking in revolutionary and Napoleonic France, crafting timepieces for royalty like Marie Antoinette and Tsar Alexander I. Prized for innovations in gears and complications, Breguet watches symbolized refined taste and technical mastery. Yet this piece whispers a intriguing tale: despite its Parisian signature, it's probably a contemporary Swiss imitation. Swiss artisans in Geneva and Neuchâtel excelled at replicating such opulent designs, flooding markets with accessible luxuries during Europe's Empire style era, blending Neoclassicism's pastoral motifs with artisanal finesse. Grisaille enamel, fired onto gold at high temperatures, mimicked sculpted reliefs, showcasing miniaturists' virtuosity on tiny surfaces. As a cultural artifact, it highlights the era's obsession with portable elegance, bridging art, science, and status—perfect for a gentleman's waistcoat or a lady's reticule. A fascinating glimpse into horology's golden age!