Antique Victorian Pocket Watch Gilt Silver Case Skulls and SATOR Magic Formula

I am pleased to offer from my private collection this exceptional and rare 19th-century Victorian pocket watch, masterfully crafted in gilt sterling silver, weighing an impressive 150 grams and measuring 55mm in diameter. This timepiece embodies the philosophical essence of Memento Mori, reminding the wearer of life’s transience. Case Features: • Finely detailed skull embellishments in high relief, symbolizing mortality. • Engraved with the mystical SATOR Square (“SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS”)—a Latin palindromic charm believed to hold magical and protective properties. • Banner below with bold MEMENTO MORI inscription. • Fully hallmarked: Includes lion passant (sterling silver), leopard’s head (London), date letter Q, and maker’s mark. • Case serial number: 460080. Dial & Movement: • Elegant white enamel dial with bold Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock. • Blued steel hands. • High-grade gilded movement with hand-engraved floral motifs and fine craftsmanship. • Engraved movement serial number: 440857. • Marked Reversing Pinion, indicating a quality feature used to prevent damage from overwinding. The watch comes with the matching key.Perfect working order. Condition: Well-preserved with minimal signs of age. Dial, movement, and case are all in excellent antique condition. Remarks: A piece of art and history combined, this is more than just a timekeeper—it is a symbolic Victorian artifact rich with esoteric meaning. Likely custom-made for a person of high status or belonging to a fraternal or philosophical society. THE WATCH COMES WITH AN APPRAISAL CERTIFICAE FOR $3500

HISTORY OF SATOR square magical formula. The magical square bearing the protective SATOR spell. It can be traced back to the 14th century and was especially widespread in Southern Germany. The formula, which can be read from all four directions, says “Sator Opera Tenet” (The Planter – i.e. Creator – preserves his work) was said to yield protective power against natural disasters such as wildfires. The word “tenet” can easily be indentified as a cross, the square can simultaneously be read as a cryptogram of the words “pater noster”. Cf. Georg Laue, Memento Mori, p. 168. 

The Sator Square is a four-times palindrome, and  peoples have attributed magical properties to it, considering it one of the broadest magical formulas in the Occident. An article on the square from The Saint Louis Medical and Surgical Journal vol. 76, reports that palindromes were viewed as being immune to tampering by the devil, who would become confused by the repetition of the letters, and hence their popularity in magical ( witchcraft).

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