Oval Watchcase with Birds and Smaller Motifs 1614 - 1619

This is an oval watchcase with birds and smaller motifs made by Jacques Hurtu, sometime between the late 16th and early 17th century. At first glance, the prominent visual elements are the birds and the intricate scrollwork, which were popular motifs during the Renaissance, symbolizing freedom and the beauty of nature. However, the bird as a symbol predates the Renaissance. In ancient Roman art, birds often appeared in mosaics and frescoes, representing souls or messengers of the gods, connecting earthly life with the divine. The scrollwork motif, with its winding and intertwining lines, evokes the classical acanthus leaves found in Greek and Roman architecture. Such imagery represented continuity, growth, and the cyclical nature of life. The image engages us on a subconscious level, reminding us of the enduring human desire to find meaning and beauty in the natural world. The cyclical nature of these symbols, their resurfacing, evolution, and adaptation in different contexts, speaks to the complex interplay between memory, history, and the human psyche.