Watch 1615 - 1635

This exquisite watch was crafted by Richard Ledertz sometime between 1600 and 1630. Notice its octagonal form, richly ornamented with gold. The lid, fitted with a clear crystal, lifts to reveal intricate clockwork. The watch's face is divided into concentric circles, each meticulously engraved, demanding close inspection. The interplay of silver and gold enhances the legibility of the numerals. The body of the watch, made of gold, is etched with spirals and foliate patterns. Consider how the object uses ornamentation to symbolize the vastness of time within a miniature space. The watch challenges fixed meanings. It prompts reflection on how we measure time, and how we perceive it, which is a central element in the discourse of existentialism. The formal qualities of the watch function as a reflection on mortality. It's a cultural and philosophical discourse encapsulated in a functional object.