Watch
19th century
Medium
Gold, enamel
Dimensions
1 1/4 × 1 1/8 in. (3.2 × 2.9 cm)
Classification
Horology
Culture
Austrian, Vienna
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Laura Frances Hearn, 1917
Accession Number
17.101.78
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, this exquisite *Watch* by Austrian maker Johann Gottlieb Müller exemplifies 19th-century Viennese horology. Crafted in Vienna, a renowned center for luxury craftsmanship during the Biederme era, this diminutive timepiece measures just 1 1/4 × 1 1/8 inches, perfectly suited for a gentleman's pocket. Bequeathed by Laura Frances Hearn in1917, it reflects the era's blend of precision engineering and opulent design. Fashioned from gold and adorned with enamel, the watch showcases virtuoso techniques in decorative a...