Repeating watch and case 1760 - 1765

Christopher Heinrich Haehnel created this watch and case around the 18th century. Immediately, one notices the elaborate gold casing and how it contrasts with the stark white face. Roman numerals mark the hours, each a bold, dark signifier against the pale backdrop. Consider how Haehnel uses materials here. The gold isn't merely decorative; it speaks to the watch's status as a luxury item, an emblem of wealth and precision. The clear glass, however, introduces an element of transparency, an invitation to view time's passage without obstruction. The watch, in its totality, becomes a symbol. Time, meticulously measured, is also adorned, transformed into an object of beauty. This duality is crucial. Haehnel asks us to ponder time's nature: is it a cold, quantifiable metric, or can it be something precious, almost sacred? The artwork suggests that our perception of time is inevitably shaped by the objects and systems we use to measure it.