Sophie von der Goltz
Head of Sale
Lot 66
A Meissen watch stand figure of Chronos, mid 18th century
3 July 2025, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £2,560 inc. premium
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Raphael Machiels
Associate Specialist
Ghislaine Howard
Sale Coordinator
A Meissen watch stand figure of Chronos, mid 18th century
Modelled by J.J. Kaendler, Chronos standing on a flower- and leaf-encrusted rocaille base accentuated in gilt, holding a circular watch stand painted with a puce rose and edged with elaborate gilt-edged and pierced scrollwork on his right arm and a scythe in his left hand, his lavender cloak painted with gilt flowers, 23cm high, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue to base, (minor restoration)
Footnotes
This composition stands out because of its self-referentiality. The old, wizened figure of an old man represents Chronos, or "Father Time." The scythe he carries is both a symbol of the logical conclusion of mortality, namely death, and an attribute of Cronus, the Greek god of agriculture. This dual reference is a result of the phonetic resemblance between "Cronus" and "Chronos," leading to the blurred iconographic vocabulary between them.
A similar and contemporaneous Meissen group composed of Chronos ("Father Time") and a winged putto at his feet on a rockwork base is at Burghley House (inv. CER0653) and in the Seattle Art Museum (inv. 91.103), an example of which was sold in these Rooms, 2 December 2015, lot 73.
