Watch and chatelaine
ca. 1775
Medium
Gold, agate, diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, carnelian
Dimensions
1/16 × 6 in. (0.2 × 15.2 cm)
Classification
Horology
Culture
German, Regensburg
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Collection of Giovanni P. Morosini, presented by his daughter Giulia, 1932
Accession Number
32.75.33
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Crafted around 1775 by the skilled German watchmaker V. Blanck in Regensburg hub of fine goldsmithing—this exquisite "Watch and chatelaine exemplifies the pinnacle of 18th-centuryology and jewelry artistry. Measuring a delicate 1/16 × 6 inches, the piece combines a petite watch with an ornate chatelaine, a accessory chain worn by women means to secure watches, keys, and sewing tools. Its Rococo-inspired design bursts with luxury, featuring gold set with sparkling diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralians, alongside colorful agate and carnelian. The intricate techniques highlight Regensburg's mastery in enameling and gem-setting, where tiny mechanisms ticked away time amid lavish decoration. Chatelaines symbolized status and practicality in Georgian-era Europe, blending functionality with opulence during the Enlightenment's fascination with precision timekeeping. A gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1932 from Giovanni P. Morosini's collection, this treasure offers a glimpse into aristocratic life, where beauty and ingenuity intertwined. Visitors, imagine dangling this from your waist—a portable jewel marking the hours with elegance!