Watch with calendar 1775 - 1795

Editor: We're looking at a "Watch with calendar" made between 1775 and 1795 by the Firm of Bordier Frères. It's currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I’m really struck by the intricacy; it's like a tiny, opulent world captured in metal and enamel. The miniature scene in the center is especially enchanting. What story does this piece tell you? Curator: Oh, the stories! It whispers of a world obsessed with time, yet utterly captivated by beauty. Imagine this gracing the waistcoat of a dandy, a daily reminder of his schedule…and his status. It's a symphony of gold, silver, and enamel— Rococo at its most playful! Do you notice how the miniature painting doesn't just sit there? Editor: It really pops! Is it common to find such detailed paintings on watches from that period? Curator: Absolutely! These weren't mere timekeepers; they were miniature artworks, reflecting the owner's taste and refinement. It's like they're saying, "Yes, I'm punctual, but also cultured." Think of it: carrying a tiny landscape painting around in your pocket. What a delightful, unexpected joy! How do you feel about such utilitarian art? Editor: It is surprising that something functional can be artistic in this way, really transforming a mundane object. I guess it goes to show how creativity can sneak into the most unexpected corners of life. Curator: Precisely! It dances between the practical and the purely delightful, turning the everyday into something sublime. I always come away from viewing pieces like this thinking, imagine how many more wonders of artistry we'd see if only the daily mundane became the subject and canvas for such inspiration!