Watch 1759

Curator: Here we have a baroque silver watch, made in 1759 by J. Samson. You can currently find it here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: It strikes me as intricate, certainly more an objet d'art than merely functional. There's a somberness to it. Curator: Indeed. Note the silverwork. The chasing on the case has these swirling vegetal patterns typical of the Baroque. This piece sits squarely within the decorative arts tradition. Look at the repetition of circular forms and arabesques! It's visually quite ornate. Editor: It’s also a telling artifact about shifts in societal values during its era. The fact that time became something personal and portable – encapsulated in such an elaborate casing!– speaks volumes about the growing importance of individual agency. And the name of its maker prominently featured on its face. Curator: The prominent placement of 'Samson,' the watchmaker's name, emphasizes craftsmanship and a growing sense of artistic identity, a step away from purely anonymous labor. Editor: It seems to be communicating more than time itself. Ownership of such a lavish item broadcasts social status, connecting to dialogues about class and access within broader cultural narratives. I imagine a person of privilege holding it, while others had little concept of what time really meant beyond survival. Curator: An interesting point about privilege made evident here. While the silver casing and ornate design display Baroque extravagance and skillful silver working techniques, your remarks push me to also think about its place in the evolution of craftsmanship and commerce. Editor: It pushes us beyond mere aesthetics and craftsmanship and into richer discourses about agency, access, and the human desire to control time itself. Curator: It makes you appreciate both its immediate aesthetic qualities and the layers of social meanings encoded within it. A fruitful pairing.