Watch 1785 - 1799

This small silver watch, made by Jean Antoine Lépine, presents an intriguing stage for symbols of transformation and vigilance. The dominant image is a serpent coiled around an altar, evoking the ancient symbol of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. This motif suggests not just physical healing but also renewal. We see the serpent, a creature of earth and instinct, elevated to a spiritual context. The serpent’s ability to shed its skin has long been associated with rebirth. Its recurring presence, from the caduceus to the ouroboros, reveals our enduring fascination with cycles of death and regeneration. The serpent entwined around an altar presents a potent symbol of vigilance, its coiled form suggesting an ever-watchful guardian. This image speaks to a deep-seated human desire for protection against the ravages of time and fate, a desire manifested in the careful craft of timekeeping itself.