Clock watch 1595 - 1615

This gilded brass clock watch was crafted by Michael Nouwen around the 16th century. It bears repeating floral motifs, common during the Renaissance, and its ornate detailing suggests it was a prized possession. Now, let's turn our attention to the symbolic language of flowers. Floral motifs are deeply embedded in the human psyche, evoking themes of transience and beauty—a tradition we can trace to the ancient Greeks, who adorned tombs with flowers to symbolize rebirth. In Nouwen's time, the Renaissance revived classical motifs, integrating them into everyday objects. This clock watch, a symbol of fleeting time, is ironically decorated with symbols of enduring beauty. The intricate latticework on the cover is reminiscent of patterns found in Gothic cathedrals, which served as portals to the divine. The same impulse—to adorn functional objects with sacred symbols—persists in this delicate timepiece. Here, the flowers and geometric patterns speak to our subconscious desire to find order and beauty in the face of time's relentless march. They remind us that time, like a flower, has a natural cycle of bloom, decay, and renewal.