Watch
Unknown Artist
ca. 1820–35
Medium
Case of gold and enamel, with butterfly and rose design
Dimensions
Height: 1/16 in. (0.2 cm); Diameter: 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm)
Classification
Horology
Culture
French or Swiss
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Laura Frances Hearn, 1917
Accession Number
17.101.32
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection, this delicate *Watch* (ca. 1820–35) exemplifies the exquisite horology of French or Swiss craftsmanship. Craft by an unknown artist, case is a masterful blend of gold and enamel, with intricate butterfly and rose designs interspersed with leaves. Measuring just 1/16 inch (0.2 cm) in height and 1 5/8 inches (4.1 cm) in diameter, this petite timepiece was likely a luxurious pocket watch, evoking the Romantic era's fascination with nature's fleeting beauty—butterflies symbolizing transformation and rose...