Watch 1625 - 1675

Curator: The artwork presented is an ornamental "Watch", dating back to between 1625 and 1675. It resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is crafted in metal, likely intended as a decorative miniature sculpture. What strikes you about its presentation? Editor: It's a small, almost spherical object, covered in what looks like decorative metalwork, tiny flowers all over and what could be an elaborate clasp? I wonder how much labor went into making something so intricate back then? What catches your attention most about this object? Curator: What immediately grabs me is the intersection of functionality and opulence. This wasn't merely about telling time; it was a conspicuous display of wealth and artistry. Consider the labor involved, not just in crafting the intricate metalwork, but in the extraction and refinement of the metal itself. Who were the people involved in the supply chains that provided the raw materials? Editor: So, you're suggesting this piece embodies a larger network of labor and resources? How would the object's small scale then play a role? Curator: Absolutely. Its size suggests portability and personal adornment. In considering it miniature nature we also want to inquire to the artist intentions. Was this artist creating a "high art" miniature or something more useful. Think about where the metal originated from and where this timepiece was sold to gain a more granular view into production means during this period. Editor: So by understanding the origins and materials involved in creating such an item we can uncover something larger about consumption, and craft during the baroque era. I will never look at these ornamental watches the same way! Curator: Precisely! The material reality reveals deeper truths about its time. By focusing on the labor and the processes involved in creation, it prompts us to reconsider these supposedly fixed notions of art, craft, and consumption, it changes the very perspective we can bring to art in general!