Watch 1824 - 1825

This gilded watch, made by S. I. Tobias between 1808 and 1825, presents us with compelling symbols of time and fleeting beauty. The delicate floral motifs adorning its face, rendered in gold and silver, speak to the transient nature of life. Floral patterns have consistently appeared throughout history. They can be seen in ancient Egyptian tombs and Renaissance paintings, serving as memento mori, reminders of mortality. Here, the blossoming flowers are entwined with the watch’s hands, creating a dialogue between nature’s cycles and human measurement. The circular form of the watch itself mirrors cosmic cycles, echoing ancient cosmological diagrams where circles represent the eternal return and continuity of existence. The shimmering gold evokes a sense of preciousness but, on a deeper level, it also invokes the sun and the passage of days. These symbols have resurfaced across eras, proving that collective memory subtly shapes our understanding of mortality.