Watch 1830 - 1865

This watch was made by Bognard in the 1800s with silver. Before the mass production of goods, intricate designs such as the foliage on the case of this watch spoke to the wealth of the client. But beyond that, the watch itself has a deeper symbolic meaning. During the 1800s in Europe, owning a pocket watch meant more than just telling time. It was a visible marker of status. The rise of industrial capitalism created a need for punctuality and precision, aligning personal schedules with the demands of factory work. This watch, therefore, reflects broader social and economic transformations. Its presence in collections like the Metropolitan Museum speaks to the institutional structures that decide which objects merit preservation and display. To understand the full meaning of this piece, scholars might consult historical records of watchmakers, period advertisements, and social histories of consumption. The value of such a piece is contingent on its cultural and institutional context.