Achtkantig kristallen horloge met op de achterzijde een email versiering van vogels en guirlandes c. 1800

This octagonal crystal watch, adorned with an enameled back featuring birds and garlands, was crafted by Karl Komenda. Reflecting the aesthetic sensibilities of its time, this piece embodies luxury and status. Note the intricate ornamentation, a hallmark of craftsmanship intended to impress. What does it mean to carry time on your person like this? How does it feel to know that the passing of each moment is visible in such a beautiful, precious object? Consider how this watch might have functioned as a symbol of power and wealth. What does it tell us about the wearer's place in a society where such artistry was both valued and accessible only to a select few? The watch serves not only as a time-telling device, but as a statement of identity, deeply embedded in the social and economic realities of its era.