Watch 1595 - 1605

This small, silver watch was made by Karl Schmidt sometime between 1590 and 1636. The face is inscribed with roman numerals and a compass rose, a symbol with roots stretching back to antiquity, representing direction and guidance, as well as the winds. The compass rose, with its cardinal directions, is reminiscent of ancient mariners charting unknown waters. It reappears in countless forms, from maps to religious iconography, each time carrying the weight of human aspiration and the drive to explore, a universal longing to navigate the uncharted waters of existence. Consider the heart-shaped piercing below the numerals. The heart, a symbol of love and life, juxtaposed with the cold precision of time, embodies our complex dance with mortality and the ephemeral nature of existence. These symbols engage us on a deep, subconscious level because they are not static representations, but dynamic carriers of cultural memory. The heart shape has origins in ancient times, when it did not symbolize love. Over time, it has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.