Watch and Chatelaine
Artist
Maker unknown
(French)
Datelate 18th-early 19th Century
MediumGold, enamel, pearls
Dimensions244.5 x 41.3 x 15.9 mm
ClassificationsT&E FOR TEXTILEWORKING
Credit LineProctor Collection, Thomas R. Proctor Watch Collection
Terms
Object numberPC. 368.a-b
DescriptionLouis XVI- style chatelaine with verge watchVaricolored gold case that has been, altered with the addition of a replaced back enamelled with painted scene of mother and children within shaped oblong panel; the chatelaine composed of painted enamel portraits of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and their family, joined by openwork enamelled gold chains set with numerous pearls, one plaque with monogram "MA" conjoined, together with a key and fob seal with blank matrix; the reverse of each portrait plaque enamelled with putto personifying the arts and sciences.
Case: varicolored gold case that has been, altered with the addition of a replaced back, enamelled with painted scene of a mother and children within shaped oblong panel; the chatelaine composed of painted enamel portraits of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and their family, joined by openwork enamelled gold chains set with numerous pearls, one plaque with monogram "MA" conjoined, together with a key and fob seal with blank matrix; the reverse of each portrait plaque enamelled with putto personifying the arts and sciences.
On View
On viewCollections
Copyright<a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc/4.0/80x15.png" /></a><br />This work is licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.
Label TextInterest in the Renaissance in the nineteenth century inspired jewelers to embellish antique pieces. The watch on this chatelaine dates to about 1775, while the chatelaine was made in the early nineteenth century. Painted enamel images on this chatelaine and watchcase portray Louis XVI, King of France from 1774 until he was deposed in 1792; his Queen Consort, Marie Antoinette; and other members of the royal family and court. Decorating jewelry with images of royalty was a fashionable means of commemorating the restoration of the French monarchy in 1815.
Enameled putti, each playing a different musical instrument, ornament the back of the chatelaine. As messengers of love they signify the devotion between the king and queen.
