Watch
Unknown Artist
ca. 1815–20
Medium
Case of gold and enamel, with radiating floral design; jeweled movement, with cylinder escapement
Dimensions
Height: 1/16 in. (0.2 cm); Diameter: 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm)
Classification
Horology
Culture
probably Swiss
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Laura Frances Hearn, 1917
Accession Number
17.101.7
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of early 19th-century horology with this exquisite pocket watch, crafted around 1815–20 by an unknown Swiss artisan. Measuring just 1 5/16 inches in diameter and a mere 1/16 inch high, this diminutive treasure was likely designed as a lady's fob watch, blending practicality with opulent decoration. Its gold case, adorned with a radiating floral enamel design, evokes the neoclassical elegance of the post-Napoleonic era, where floral motifs symbolized renewal and delicacy amid Europe's shifting empires. The watch's technical brilliance lies in its jeweled movement fe...