Watch 1815 - 1840

Editor: So this is a watch made sometime between 1815 and 1840, likely by Pierre Morel. The piece incorporates metal and enamel and its decorative art aesthetic gives a very elegant impression. What strikes you about the piece? Curator: It’s interesting to consider this watch not just as a time-telling device, but as a product of its time – literally and figuratively. Look at the materials: gold, enamel, meticulously crafted. These weren’t readily available to everyone. The production itself reflects a specific social hierarchy, where skilled labor was dedicated to creating luxury goods for the elite. Who were the people involved in extracting the materials, crafting the metal, applying the enamel? The rococo design with its floral and foliate ornaments might also evoke thoughts on status. Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn't considered the implications of access to the materials and techniques like enameling and the specific division of labor involved. What is it that this level of attention to detail reveals, beyond social class? Curator: Think about the skills and craftsmanship required. Enameling is not a simple process, involving layers of colored glass fused to metal. It points to specialized workshops and the transmission of knowledge, maybe even within guilds. How did Morel learn this skill, and who taught him? What were his influences and ambitions? The rococo details speaks volumes. Consider that in this time, people’s relationships to items were closer: this item wasn’t discarded, but kept as heirloom. Editor: It’s amazing to think of this object carrying so much embedded information. I’m beginning to appreciate decorative arts so much more as indicators of cultural and economic systems in history. Curator: Exactly! It reminds us that art isn't created in a vacuum; it's inextricably linked to its social and material context. We should always consider labor and production.