Medium
Enamel on gold, gilded brass, silver, blued steel
Dimensions
Overall: 1 5/8 × 1 1/4 × 5/8 in. (4.1 × 3.2 × 1.6 cm)
Classification
Horology
Culture
Swiss, Geneva
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.190.1013a, b
Art Historical Context
Step back to 1660s Geneva, Switzerland—a cradle of precision watchmaking—where this exquisite pocket *Watch* was crafted by enameler Jean-Pierre Huaud (known as the younger Huaud in collaboration with watchmaker Abraham Cailliat. At just 1 5/8 × 1 1/4 × 5/8 inches, this diminutive treasure was designed for the elite, slipping easily into a gentleman's waistcoat pocket. Geneva's horological tradition, fueled by Protestant refugees skilled in fine mechanics, elevated timepieces from mere tools to status symbols. The watch gleams with opulent materials: enamel on gold for vibrant, durable decora...
About the Artist
Jean-Pierre Huaud, known as the younger Huaud|Abraham Cailliatte (Swiss|Swiss) · 1657 |1655 –1724 |1723
Swiss, 1657–1724|Swiss, 1655–1723