L\'ART DE L\'HORLOGERIE EN FRANCE DE ...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 14, 1993

LOT 175

Breguet à Paris, circa 1828. Very fine gilt bronze and enamel, moon phase astronomical skeleton clock with double calendar.

CHF 40,000 - 50,000

Sold: CHF 92,000

C. Rectangular gilt bronze base on four engineturned feet, set with four rectangular columns applied with enamel plaques painted with urns of flowers within a blue frame with gold paillone decoration, supporting a semi-circular arched frame applied with a blue enamel panel decorated with gold stars and false pearls. D. White enamel chapter ring with Roman numerals and, blue border, flanked by a subsidiary dial for the months and the date, moon phase aperture at the top. Blued-steel Breguet hands. M. Brass, circular, with going barrels both for the going and the striking trains, pin-wheel escapement set on the back plate, plain gilt brass five-arm balance, blued-steel conical balance spring. Signed on a cartouche below the dial. In good condition. Dim. 48 x 27,5 x 14 cm.


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Notes

The mainspring of this clock is dated 1828. King Louis Philippe 1773 - 1850 Louis Philippe I, King of the French, was born at Paris 6 October 1773. He was the eldest son of Louis- Philippe Joseph and Louise-Marie-Adelaide of Bourbon-Penthièvre and carred successively the titles of Duc de Valis, Duc de Chartres and Duc d'Orléans. The severe education that he received from Mme de Senlis caused him to greet the French Revolution with enthusiasm, but because of his reactionary views he vas forced to take refuge in Switzerland whence he moved to Germany, Scandinavia and the United States. He returned in 1801 settling in England where he lived until 1807. After his marriage with Marie-Amélie, daughter of Ferdinand IV of Naples, he lived in Sicily. He sired five sons and three daughters. He did not return definitively to France until 1817/and it was then that he took to a bourgeois style of life and to frequenting politicians, merchants and writers of the opposition camp. In 1830, the white hope of the bourgeoisis, he accepted the tri-colour flag. Proclaimed lieutenant- General of the country 31 July, he became 'King of the French' 7 August 1830. His reign lasted until 1848. Four groups of opponents formed against him, the legitimists, the bonapartists, the republicans and the socialists, the latter fomenting plots and even assasination attempts against him. His royal authority chiefly imposed itself in the domain of foreign policy, but his peace policy was one of the main reasons for his increasing unpopularity. His reign was signaled by the conquest of Algeria and economic expansion as well as by feverish speculation and growing poverty among the workers. The fall of Louis-Philippe was caused by the intransigent conservatism of Guizot who refused all electoral reform.Louis-Philippe abdicated in favour of his grandson the Comte de Paris 24 February 1848, but the latter was refused.The dethroned monarch found refuge in England where Queen Victoria placed her residence of Claremont, Sussex at his disposai. There he died 26 August 1850.