The 100-Year Object

Which objects actually survive a century of ownership — and which quietly disappear. Materials, conservation, and survival economics.

The frescoed bedroom (cubiculum) from the Roman villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale, reassembled at The Met.

The 100-Year Object

How long does art last? What survives a century, and what quietly disappears

How long does art last? Oil, tempera, bronze and stone last centuries with care; C-prints and mixed media fade in decades. Light and humidity data inside.

NorwegianSpark Editorial10 min

The pierced, engraved gilt movement of an 18th-century watch by Charles Cabrier, London.

The 100-Year Object

Do luxury watches last 100 years? Servicing, parts and the real economics of a century on the wrist

Can a mechanical watch last 100 years? With servicing, water-tightness and parts supply: service intervals, originality, which watches are built for it.

NorwegianSpark Editorial13 min