Watch and chatelaine

Jules-Paul Brateau|Hippolyte Téterger

ca. 1875–78 · Chatelaine: partly enameled gold and platinum set with diamonds; Movement: gilded brass and steel · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

This extravagant, exquisitely crafted display piece, decorated in a historical revival style inspired by sixteenth-century “grotesque” ornament, was shown at the 1878 Paris Exposition Universelle. While the watchcase is signed by Téterger, the movement is unsigned, suggesting the prestige of the jeweler surpassed that of the watchmaker. If valued more as a piece of jewelry than a timekeeper, its high-quality movement nevertheless features up-to-date technology for the time.

Artist

Jules-Paul Brateau|Hippolyte Téterger

Date

ca. 1875–78

Medium

Chatelaine: partly enameled gold and platinum set with diamonds; Movement: gilded brass and steel

Culture

French, Paris

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Cele H. and William B. Rubin, 1959