Watch
Unknown Artist
ca. 1590–1620
Medium
Rock crystal, gilt metal, silver
Dimensions
2 × 1 1/2 in. (5.1 × 3.8 cm)
Classification
Horology
Culture
German
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.190.1534
Art Historical Context
This exquisite pocket watch, crafted in Germany around 1590–1620, exemplifies the Renaissance-era fusion of artistry and ingenuity in horology—the science and craft of timekeeping. Measuring just 2 × 1 1/2 inches, its diminutive size made it a portable luxury for the elite, who prized such devices as symbols of wealth and technological prowess amid the era's scientific advancements and expanding trade. The watch's case of translucent rock crystal reveals the intricate inner workings, a deliberate choice highlighting the jeweler's skill and the material's rarity—quarried and meticulously carve...