Watch 1695 - 1705

This is a pocket watch made by Christopher Gould, sometime between 1650 and 1750, a period of intense global transformation. In this era, watches became more than mere instruments; they were emblems of status and control. Think about who could afford such a luxury. The rise of mercantile capitalism meant increasing disparities in wealth, and objects like this watch signal a relationship to power and privilege. It speaks to the entanglement of time, labor, and ownership. Consider how the measurement and control of time was—and still is—inextricably linked to the demands of labor, especially during the rise of industrialization. The watch invites us to reflect on our own relationship with time. Are we masters of our time, or are we, like the laborers of Gould's era, subjected to its relentless tick? The watch is more than just a functional object; it's a symbol laden with social and historical meaning.