Antique Pocket Watch French Memento Mori Skull Elongated Octagonal Verge Fusee

This is a rare and exceptional 18th-century French verge fusee pocket watch, featuring an exquisite Ormolu gilt bronze octagonal case in a Memento Mori style. The watch exemplifies the artistry and symbolism of the period, with elaborate engravings that serve as a reminder of mortality and the fleeting nature of time. The watch was made by the French watch master Jean Fary c1790’s. The watch comes with the matching gilt skulls chain fob and a matching winding key. The watch is 45mm high without the bow,35mm width,24mm thick.

The Memento Mori theme, Latin for “Remember you must die,” was a popular motif in the 17th and 18th centuries, urging people to reflect on life’s transience. This piece is not only a timekeeping instrument but also a philosophical artifact.

Features & Design:

1. Case:

• Material: Ormolu gilt bronze (a high-quality, gold-gilded finish)

• Shape: Octagonal, a unique departure from the traditional round cases

• Engraved Symbols:

• Front Cover: Prominent skull motif, surrounded by a decorative border

• Side Panel Inscription: Latin phrase “Tempus Fugit”, meaning “Time flies”

• Back Cover: Depicts a grim reaper with a scythe, an embodiment of mortality, with “R.I.P.” inscribed above

2. Dial & Movement:

• Watch Face: Enamel dial with skeleton imagery

• Numerals: Roman numerals, in an ornate gothic-style font

• Escapement: Verge fusee mechanism, an early and intricate watchmaking technique known for its precision.Perfect working order(see the video)

• Hands: Delicate gold hands complementing the dial’s artwork

Historical Significance:

• Verge Fusee Escapement: This mechanism was widely used in European watches from the 16th to the early 19th century. It provided improved accuracy by regulating the unwinding force of the mainspring.

• Memento Mori Symbolism: Such watches were often worn as reminders of the inevitability of death, reflecting the Baroque and Rococo fascination with vanitas and mortality.

• Collector’s Value: Due to its rarity, detailed craftsmanship, and symbolic significance, this watch represents an extraordinary piece of horological and artistic history.

Conclusion:

This 18th-century French Memento Mori pocket watch is a masterpiece of both watchmaking and philosophical expression. The combination of intricate gold-work, symbolic imagery, and the sophisticated verge fusee movement makes it an invaluable artifact for collectors and enthusiasts of antique timepieces.

The watch comes with an APPRAISAL CERTIFICATE FOR $6000

Free shipping to worldwide,fully insured(possible byDHL overnight courier)

NOTE:PLEASE OBSERVE CAREFULLY THE PHOTOS! IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE DESCRIPTION. Every potencial defect which is shown in the photos,but not mention in the description,will be considered for described.All the photos shoot by professional Nikon 105 Macro lens under 40x diopter magnification,so you can explore even the smallest detail like under microscope!