Clock-watch with sundial 1600 - 1615

This clock-watch with sundial was made by Jan Jansen Bockeltz, likely in the early 17th century. Its design is a beautiful collision of form and function. The oval shape, rendered in gleaming gold, immediately catches the eye. The intricate carvings create a tactile experience, an almost haptic invitation to touch. The clock face itself is surrounded by decorative patterns, a semiotic code, which elevates the object beyond mere utility. The sundial, revealed when opened, transforms the watch into a miniature scientific instrument, merging art with empiricism. The geometric precision of the sundial contrasts with the ornate embellishments, creating tension. Through its design, this clock-watch challenges the fixity of time, proposing that time can be measured in different ways, both mechanically and through the sun. It destabilizes the boundary between ornamentation and functionality. The result is not just a timepiece, but a portable philosophical statement about time itself.