Calendar watch 1725 - 1750

Curator: This intricate timepiece is a Calendar Watch, dating back to 1725-1750. It's currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and was crafted by Gabriel-Joseph Moillet. The materials are primarily metal. Editor: Wow, the level of detail is just breathtaking! It almost looks like lace made of steel, with that delicate inner mechanism exposed. The patina gives it a quiet, contemplative mood, like it's seen a few centuries tick by. Curator: Exactly! Time becomes something almost decorative. Pocket watches like this weren't just functional; they were potent status symbols. Remember, during this era, timekeeping was becoming standardized, but owning such a beautiful watch proclaimed access, leisure, and control. Editor: And that control would’ve been profoundly gendered and classed, right? I’m picturing it nestled in the pocket of some wealthy nobleman, literally counting down the minutes until his next conquest, while exploited laborers were driven by the clock. There’s a darker side to this elegance, I think. Curator: I hadn’t quite seen it like that, but I understand your thinking. I see a watch created at a historical moment when luxury goods played a critical role in differentiating elites from ordinary people. These timepieces represent power. At the same time, I do appreciate that decorative detail and that somebody dedicated care to such an item... Editor: Oh, I agree – the craftsmanship is remarkable. And it forces us to consider these complexities, these intertwined histories of privilege and artistry. It isn’t just a beautiful object; it's a portal into thinking about class, power, and time itself. Curator: Maybe beauty is just the invitation to have such difficult conversations. That is how this watch really shines, you know. It takes time, which it represents, to process its presence here.