Watch 1615 - 1625

This small portable sundial watch was made by Nicolaus Rugendas the Elder sometime between the late 16th and mid-17th century. As we consider this object, let’s reflect on what time means, both historically and personally. In Rugendas’s time, marking the hours was a privilege. It wasn’t just about knowing when to work; it was about aligning oneself with the movements of the cosmos. The very act of possessing such an item spoke volumes about status and education. For those who could afford them, portable sundials became fashionable statements of identity, announcing not just punctuality, but also sophistication. What does time mean to us now? And how does the commodification of timekeeping devices influence our relationship with the abstract experience of time passing?