Zakhorloge met geëmailleerde voorstelling van Antonius en Cleopatra c. 1742

This enameled pocket watch, attributed to Pieter Morijn, presents an intriguing dance of time and love’s tragedy. The dial, with its precise Roman numerals and ornate floral tracery, speaks of order and beauty. Yet, it is the subtle hand that draws our attention. Here, the dance between hours and minutes evolves into a poignant reminder of mortality and the fleeting nature of existence. Consider how the passing of time has been linked to memento mori imagery since antiquity. The tradition of skulls and hourglasses appeared in medieval art to remind viewers of their inevitable death, and that symbol has been translated into the clock. Time then becomes an allegory for the ephemerality of life, echoing in vanitas paintings and even ancient Roman poetry. It underscores a collective human consciousness grappling with transience. This motif, like a phantom limb, resurfaces through generations.