Fine, rare and beautiful 18K gold, enamel and diamond antique verge and fusee
continental skull form renaissance style memento mori watch by Romilli circa 1810.
The skull enameled overall (insignificant restoration) with articulated jaw and
diamond set eyes and teeth. Glazed aperture in the bottom to expose
the pierced and engraved balance cock. Spring-hinged covers open to reveal
a white enamel dial with blued steel hands.
Memento mori is a Latin phrase translated as "Remember you must die" (and the
origin of the English word memento, which appeared as memento mori,
"remembrance of death"). It names a genre of artistic creations that vary widely
from one another, but which all share the same purpose: to remind people of their
own mortality and the punishment they will receive if they transgress the rules of
their religion. Skull form watches were popular during the renaissance.
The painting "Youth with s Skull" is by Frans Halls, 1580 -1666.