Watch with a portrait of Nicholas I, czar of Russia (r. 1825–55)
probably ca. 1850–55
Medium
Case of gold and enamel; jeweled movement with temperature-compensated balance and Swiss lever escapement
Dimensions
2 11/16 x 1/2in. (6.8 x 1.3cm); Diameter: 1 15/16 in. (4.9 cm)
Classification
Horology
Culture
Swiss, Geneva
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Vladimir M. Eitingon, in memory of his parents, Michail and Betty Eitingon, 1982
Accession Number
1983.183.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite gold and enamel watch, crafted by the renowned Swiss firm Perret & Cie of Geneva around 1850–55, a finely painted portrait of Nicholas I, Czar of Russia (r. 1825–55). Enamel portraits on luxury timepieces were a hallmark of 19th-century decorative arts, blending miniature painting with horological precision to create wearable jewels for the elite. The czar's stern visage, rendered in translucent enamels on the case, evokes the opulence of imperial Russia during a era of autocratic rule and cultural splendor. At just under 2 inches in diameter, the watch boasts an advanced jewel...