About this artwork
This rock crystal watch was crafted by Timothée Hubert the Elder in the first half of the 17th century. Notice the regal eagle prominently displayed: it's a symbol of power, dominion, and vision, a motif found across cultures and epochs. Consider the Roman Empire, where the eagle, as Aquila, was the emblem of legionary might, or its representation of Zeus, king of the gods in Greek mythology. This symbol transcends mere political or religious significance; it embodies a primal human aspiration to rise above, to survey all from a superior vantage point. Interestingly, even in contemporary heraldry, the eagle persists, though its associations may have subtly shifted to evoke notions of national pride, ambition, and freedom. It is the human psyche's continuing dance with symbols that reflect our deepest yearnings and fears. And here, encased in crystal, it reminds us of the eternal flight of time.
Watch
1600 - 1650
Timothée Hubert (the Elder)
1600 - 1650The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NYArtwork details
- Medium
- carving, metal, sculpture
- Dimensions
- 2 × 1 3/4 in. (5.1 × 4.4 cm)
- Location
- Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
- Copyright
- Public Domain
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About this artwork
This rock crystal watch was crafted by Timothée Hubert the Elder in the first half of the 17th century. Notice the regal eagle prominently displayed: it's a symbol of power, dominion, and vision, a motif found across cultures and epochs. Consider the Roman Empire, where the eagle, as Aquila, was the emblem of legionary might, or its representation of Zeus, king of the gods in Greek mythology. This symbol transcends mere political or religious significance; it embodies a primal human aspiration to rise above, to survey all from a superior vantage point. Interestingly, even in contemporary heraldry, the eagle persists, though its associations may have subtly shifted to evoke notions of national pride, ambition, and freedom. It is the human psyche's continuing dance with symbols that reflect our deepest yearnings and fears. And here, encased in crystal, it reminds us of the eternal flight of time.
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