Watch

Art Historical Context

Crafted by the esteemed London watchmaker John Work between 1765 and 1766, *Watch* is a exquisite example of 18th-century British horology, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of's Department of European Sculpture and Decor Arts. This petite silver timepiece, with a diameter just 1 7/8 inches (4.8 cm), exemplifies miniaturization and precision engineering that defined Georgian-era luxury goods. Bequeathed to the Met in 1883 by White Thorne, it reflects the era's fascination with finely wrought personal accessories that blended functionality with artistry. In mid-18th-century London, watchmaking...