Watch 19th century

This small watch was made by Johann Gottlieb Müller in Germany, sometime in the early 19th century, from gold and enamel. While this piece may seem like a bauble, timepieces were once an important marker of social status. Before industrialization made watches affordable, they were luxury items primarily owned by the upper classes. Owning a watch signified wealth and status, while the act of checking it in public demonstrated a command over one's own schedule, further reinforcing social hierarchies. The meticulous craftsmanship and precious materials of this watch reflect the opulence and social stratification of 19th-century European society. Objects like this speak volumes about the social conditions that shape artistic production. To truly understand this watch, we need to delve into historical records, social commentaries, and economic data from the period. The meaning of art is contingent on the social and institutional contexts in which it’s created and consumed.