A square panel of clear rock crystal with beveled edges frames a circular dial of dark lacquer inlaid with a rainbow-tinted mother-of-pearl scene depicting three figures seated around a loom. The figures appear to be in a garden pavilion: leaves and rocks peek in from the right side. The delicate pieces of bright, colorful shell contrast with the dark enamel background. Framing the scene is a deep blue enamel bezel with deep red translucent enamel Roman numerals. Each numeral is set within a shaped, gold-trimmed panel. The hands are arrow-shaped and diamond-encrusted, accented with small purple rubies. The hands point to five and ten. The corners of the clock are each inset with a round, purple-red cabochon ruby in a gold bezel. An angled rock crystal strut holds the clock upright at a slight angle, like a picture frame. The clock faces right on a white background.

See more objects with the tag timekeeping, luxury, brightly colored.

Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
1920	Work on this object began.
1930	Work on this object ended.
2017	We photographed this object. We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Desk Clock, ca. 1925

This is a Desk Clock.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Private Collection as part of Jeweled Splendors of the Art Deco Era: The Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan Collection.

It is dated ca. 1925. Its medium is rock crystal, chinese lacquer, rose-cut diamonds and rubies, cabochon rubies, lac burgauté, enamel, gold.

It is credited Lent by Private Collection.

A desk clock enclosed in a shiny rock crystal arch-formed surround with a circular chapter ring and dial. A ring of round diamonds; a bezel, encircles the black enamel chapter ring encrusted with large Roman numerals indicating hours with gold separating the numerals. A gold ring surrounds the numerals however the chapter ring could have shifted down because the gold ring is absent from viewing on the bottom. A ruyi design of a gold symmetrical cloud-like pattern, side-to-side, borders a carved green jade medallion with two cabochon sapphires and diamond encrusted hour and minute hands adorning the dial. Lower on the object are two topiary forms set on left and right corners carved from a large cabochon sapphire surrounded by black enamel set in gold prongs, diamonds as stem, with a green trapezoidal-formed polished jade pot and black enamel handles and base. The clock is photographed in an upright position where the only side visible is the front and is reflected against a white surface.

Desk Clock, Borne, ca. 1927
platinum, gold, rock crystal, carved jade, cabochon and carved sapphires,....
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.101

Clock of square carved rock crystal with two nested white enamel and gold-numbered rings surrounding a circular medallion at center. The medallion depicts two putti sitting on clouds opposite each other, holding flowers up between them. The white-grey scene appears to be carved in low relief, in glass or rock crystal. Enclosing the medallion is a ring of white enamel set with gold Roman numerals, one through twelve; rosettes; and decorative borders. This ring is encircled at a little distance by a second similarly-decorated ring with a set of smaller Arabic numerals, one through thirty-one, bordered by a ring of close-set diamonds. The scrolled hour and minute hands are set with various diamonds; a diamond-set pointer extends to the outer ring to indicate the date. Four diamond rosettes accent the corners. The supporting strut appears through the clear space between the numeral rings.

Desk Clock, 8 Day, 1925
carved rock crystal, glass, enamel, rose-cut and other diamonds, gold, platinum.
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.102

Drawing, Possible Design for Relief; Scene in Circle, Ornaments in Corners

Drawing, Possible Design for Relief; Scene in Circle, Ornaments in Corners
pen and brown ink, brush and sepia wash on paper.
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund.
1938-88-192

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 7.5 × 7.5 × 2.8 cm (2 15/16 × 2 15/16 × 1 1/8 in.)

It has the following markings

Outside of back: Ref no. 957; Case no. 1802; signed "CARTIER" Inside of back: hand-engraved, calligraphy: "EUROPEAN WATCH & CLOCK CO. INC. FRANCE"; 3286/1802 Inside of movement bridge: stamped "FIFTEEN-5-JEWELS/E.W.C. Co Inc. FRANCE FAB SUISE"

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Jeweled Splendors of the Art Deco Era: The Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan Collection.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/DayXZ/
Accession Number 13.2016.97
Object ID 420577255