Repeating watch 1785 - 1799

This pocket watch, made by George Achard et Fils, presents a scene that evokes the classical world. Here we see a young woman, perhaps a nymph or goddess, offering something from a flowering tree to two men dressed in what appears to be Roman military attire. The act of offering itself is ancient, a gesture of goodwill and supplication found across cultures. Think of the offerings to deities in ancient temples, or the exchange of gifts between rulers as a sign of peace. Here, the offering suggests a moment of choice or temptation, a pivotal point where destinies might be altered. The image stirs something primal within us. We sense the weight of decisions, the allure of the unknown, and the timeless dance between power and grace. It’s an echo of humanity’s enduring fascination with its own fate. A symbol that resurfaces in art through the ages, each time coloured by the anxieties and hopes of its era.