Antique French Memento Mori Owl Verge Fusee Pocket Watch 1770 Ormolu Agate Eyes

The watch is formed as a fully three-dimensional owl, a powerful memento mori symbol associated with wisdom, night, vigilance, and mortality. The owl’s eyes are set with cabochon-cut agate gemstones, giving the piece a striking and expressive presence.

Upon opening the hinged case, the watch reveals a beautifully decorated enamel dial featuring a memento mori scene of an owl standing upon a skull, beneath a crown motif, with Roman numerals. The movement is a fine key-wound verge fusee, consistent with French craftsmanship of the late 18th century.

This is a rare and museum-quality object, combining horology, symbolic art, and sculptural metalwork.

Details

Origin: France Date: Circa 1770s Case: Gilt bronze / Ormolu Form: Owl (Memento Mori) Dial: Hand-decorated enamel with symbolic owl & skull scene Eyes: Cabochon-cut agate gemstones Diameter: 43 mm Movement: Key-wound verge fusee Condition: Perfect working order Clean, well-preserved case with age-appropriate patina Dial and movement intact and original

Key: Matching winding key included Chain: Original style gilt chain fob included

Included with Purchase

✔ Gilt chain fob

✔ Matching winding key

✔ Professional appraisal certificate valuing the watch at $6,000

Collector’s Notes

Memento mori watches of this quality and sculptural complexity are exceedingly rare, particularly in figural animal form. Owl watches from the 18th century are especially sought after due to their symbolic meaning and theatrical design. Comparable examples are typically found only in private collections or museum holdings.

An outstanding piece for:

Museum or institutional collection Advanced pocket watch collectors Memento mori & symbolic art collectors High-end decorative arts investors

Provenance & Authenticity

Guaranteed original 18th-century French work, not a later reproduction. Item will be carefully packed and shipped fully insured. Please review all photographs, which form part of the description.

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