Watch 1645 - 1655

Denis Bordier crafted this silver watch sometime in the 17th century. Its meticulously etched details invite us to consider time's passage through the lens of artistry. The watch's design, an ornate oval, disrupts the conventional circular form, immediately challenging our expectations of a time-telling device. Roman numerals mark the hours, encased within a florid, Baroque-style pattern. A semiotic analysis reveals how the detailed floral work is not merely decorative but an integral component that challenges fixed meanings of beauty, nature and time. The textured surface plays with light and shadow, creating an illusion of movement. The watch thus transcends its functional purpose, becoming a philosophical object. It prompts us to meditate on the transient nature of life, framed within the enduring medium of silver. The watch becomes a site of continuous re-interpretation, reflecting evolving cultural perceptions of time.