Watch
Unknown Artist
ca. 1620
Medium
Smoke crystal, gilt metal, enamel
Dimensions
Overall: 1 × 3/8 in. (2.5 × 1 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
17.190.1551
Art Historical Context
Step into the intricate world of 17th horology with this exquisite "Watch," crafted around 1620 by an unknown German artist. At just 1 × 3/8 inches (2.5 × 1 cm), thisutive timepiece exemplifies the era's fascination with portable luxury. During the early Baroque period, pocket watches evolved from rare novelties into status symbols for Europe's elite, blending mechanical ingenuity with opulent design. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's European Sculpture andative Arts department, it highlights Germany's emerging prowess in precision craftsmanship. The watch's case gleams with smoke cryst...