Watch 1625 - 1635

Editor: This exquisitely crafted piece is a watch, made between 1625 and 1635 by Richard Masterson. It’s silver, sculptural, and quite ornate with clear Baroque sensibilities. It's incredible how much symbolism is embedded in a functional object. What can you tell us about its imagery? Curator: The overt symbolism surrounding time, itself, is powerful. Consider its physical form: an ovoid shape. How might that speak to notions of the "cosmic egg," or an unbroken cycle of life and rebirth? Editor: That's interesting. It didn't strike me at first but an egg symbolises potential and new beginnings. Curator: Precisely! Time is rarely presented as merely linear in early modern symbolism, but also cyclical. Note the silver medium, associated not just with wealth, but with the moon, and feminine, receptive energy. It's about reflecting on time, not just measuring it. And what about the case being open, revealing the intricate workings within? Editor: So, unveiling a deeper significance perhaps? Showing time isn’t hidden? Curator: Exactly. It speaks to the revelation of hidden knowledge and embracing one's mortality by seizing the day and mastering time. What an insight into Baroque consciousness! Editor: It's amazing how an object like a watch could hold so much meaning beyond its practical function! I learned a lot looking at the visual layers. Curator: And I appreciate that you’ve started to see these layers yourself. The more closely we look, the richer the artwork reveals its stories and the story of the culture in which it was created.