Watch 19th century

Curator: This diminutive piece, a watch in the shape of a mandolin, dates to the 19th century and was crafted by Léonard Bordier. You can find it here at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Well, it certainly captures my attention. It's delicate, almost ethereal, yet strikingly detailed, given its scale. Curator: Bordier was known for these miniature decorative art objects. Timepieces, in particular, became potent symbols during this period. Think of the rise of industrial capitalism and the need for regulated labor. Owning something like this suggested leisure, refinement and access. Editor: I’m immediately drawn to the linear elements. Look at the way the metal strings curve towards that central wreath motif, pulling your eye inward, then upward along the fretboard’s geometric grid. The contrasts create an interesting tension. Curator: Precisely! Also, notice the social dance taking place with something like this; the ability to discretely check the time was now coded into jewelry and decor, moving personal adornment toward this utilitarian function. This was a social distinction, an implied knowledge to navigate schedules. Editor: Absolutely. And the chain itself? It drapes in this elegant, almost serpentine fashion. Is there a semiotic reading there perhaps, with time acting as a sinuous force that’s constantly present and constricting? Curator: Certainly! I like that reading. You also must consider the craft involved; how these miniatures themselves were objects of spectacle; often presented and collected to demonstrate wealth. Editor: True. Despite the limitations imposed by the metal, there’s still a tactile, textural quality—especially when the light catches the filigree. Curator: I think these pieces encapsulate larger shifts. Art serving not just aesthetic pleasure but social and political aims. Editor: It's amazing to think about how a formal exercise in symmetry and linear precision like this piece has a reflection on society and status. Curator: Exactly. A testament to how art becomes entangled with all facets of public life.