THE ART OF BREGUET
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991
LOT 51
A la Grande Duchesse de Toscane Watch No.2603, sold on 20 November 1813, for the sum of 3600 Francs. Gold watch with regulator dial and quarterrepeating. Original gold Breguet double chain and ratchet key.
CHF 55,000 - 60,000
Sold: CHF 57,500
Case: 18 ct., three body, quatre baguettes form, by Tavernier, No. 3200, engine-turned a grains d'orge. Gold cuvette signed "Breguet, 2603". Dial: Eccentric, engine-turned silver, signed: " Breguet et Fils", with Roman hour numerals on a subsidiary ring, centre minutes with small subsidiary seconds dial. Blued-steel Breguet hands. Movement: Gilt brass, 15"', bar caliber, with overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, three-arm plain gold balance with parachute on the top pivot. Blued-steel flat balance spring. In good condition. Diam. 43 mm.
Notes
History: Bought back from Monsieur De Deliveron on 8 March 1817, for the sum of 2000 Francs.
Resold to Lord Lowther on 4 August 1817, for the
sum of 3200 Francs.
Note: Breguet made few watches for civil use with a "regulator" dial; the minutes in the centre and the
hours and seconds shown on small subsidiary
rings. That he should choose to fit one on such a
small watch is most unusual.
ELISA BONAPARTE Princess of Lucques, Grand Duchess of Tuscany (1777 -1820)
Born in Ajaccio in 1777, Elisa Bonaparte was the eldest child of Charles and Laetitia Bonaparte. 1-laving been banished by Paoli to the continent, the family struggled amidst severe financial difficulties, although Napoleon's military successes soon put an end to this life of austerity. Fearing that Elisa, now twenty, would enc up a spinster, Mrs Bonaparte convinced her daughter to yield to the marriage proposals of a somewhat mediocre Corsican officer, Pascal-Félix Bacciochi. Had Napoleon known of these plans, he most likely would have imposed his veto. History has it that he was informed too late and accordingly, the wedding was celebrated in Marseilles in 1797. Bacciochi was however promptly promoted to the rank of chief of battalion and put in charge of the Ajaccio citadel. in the days of the Consulate, Mrs Bacciochi led a brilliant and fascinating life, sharing her time between the Chateau of Plessis-Chamant and her "hotel particulier" in Paris. There s` he invited famous writers of the time - Chateaubriand was a regular guest - but also philosophers and scientists. She was considered a patron of the arts and afforded her entourage with her powerful protection. In the meantime, her husband, for whom this intense literary and artistic activity was undoubtedly quite overwhelming, preferred devoting his time to serving the Emperor dutifully, first in Sedan, then in Saint-Omer. Upon proclamation of the Empire, Elisa was granted the title of hereditary Princess of Piombino (7805). The following year, the couple received the Principality of Lucques. But Elisa considered these honors to be insufficient. Succumbing to pressure from his sister, Napoleon gave Elisa the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Bacciochi was kept away from power, although he was awarded the title of Prince together with the military rank of Major-General. Elisa took her functions very seriously. She surrounded herself with a competent entourage of advisers, closely scrutinizing the state accounts, instigating major programs, developing the region's mines, forests and saltworks, encouraging silk and felt manufacturing, whilst at the same time inspecting her troops. She was extremely cautious not to hurt the Tuscans' pride and, for this purpose, insisted that all ordinances she issued were published in both the French and Italian languages. During her reign as Grand Duchess of Tuscany, she strove to obey the Emperor's directives. From his exile in Saint-Helena, Napoleon praised the manner in which his sister ruled over her territories. In his memoirs, he would describe her as a " master woman, prodigiously active and blessed with a degree of knowledge of her cabinet's affairs superior to that of her most able diplomat". Further to this "she was not afraid of standing up to one of her ministers if she happened to have a differing opinion". Elisa's position in Tuscany became increasingly fragile, as the pace of her brother's defeats gathered momentum. When the Neapolitan troops entered the city of Florence, she quickly fled to Lucques, hoping to find peace. But she was soon to be disillusioned and departed for Montpelier, in an attempt to outmanoeuvre the Allies' advancing troops. The Austrians eventually authorized her to settle in Bologna. When Napoleon escaped from Elba in 1815, Elisa was suspected of having had some foreknowledge of the plan. This was later proved to be wrong, but she nevertheless was banished to Briinn, where Bacciochi soon rejoined her. Elisa's correspondence reveals that she was shocked and distressed at having been treated as a war criminal. After Waterloo, the authorities continued to keep a close eye on her. It was only when her old ally Metternich enabled her to settle in Trieste - on the condition that she renounce her titles - that she began to lead a relatively normal existence. Elisa purchased an elegant villa in the suburbs of Trieste, where she died aged 43, having led a nomadic, albeit eventful existence.
ELISA BONAPARTE Princess of Lucques, Grand Duchess of Tuscany (1777 -1820)
Born in Ajaccio in 1777, Elisa Bonaparte was the eldest child of Charles and Laetitia Bonaparte. 1-laving been banished by Paoli to the continent, the family struggled amidst severe financial difficulties, although Napoleon's military successes soon put an end to this life of austerity. Fearing that Elisa, now twenty, would enc up a spinster, Mrs Bonaparte convinced her daughter to yield to the marriage proposals of a somewhat mediocre Corsican officer, Pascal-Félix Bacciochi. Had Napoleon known of these plans, he most likely would have imposed his veto. History has it that he was informed too late and accordingly, the wedding was celebrated in Marseilles in 1797. Bacciochi was however promptly promoted to the rank of chief of battalion and put in charge of the Ajaccio citadel. in the days of the Consulate, Mrs Bacciochi led a brilliant and fascinating life, sharing her time between the Chateau of Plessis-Chamant and her "hotel particulier" in Paris. There s` he invited famous writers of the time - Chateaubriand was a regular guest - but also philosophers and scientists. She was considered a patron of the arts and afforded her entourage with her powerful protection. In the meantime, her husband, for whom this intense literary and artistic activity was undoubtedly quite overwhelming, preferred devoting his time to serving the Emperor dutifully, first in Sedan, then in Saint-Omer. Upon proclamation of the Empire, Elisa was granted the title of hereditary Princess of Piombino (7805). The following year, the couple received the Principality of Lucques. But Elisa considered these honors to be insufficient. Succumbing to pressure from his sister, Napoleon gave Elisa the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Bacciochi was kept away from power, although he was awarded the title of Prince together with the military rank of Major-General. Elisa took her functions very seriously. She surrounded herself with a competent entourage of advisers, closely scrutinizing the state accounts, instigating major programs, developing the region's mines, forests and saltworks, encouraging silk and felt manufacturing, whilst at the same time inspecting her troops. She was extremely cautious not to hurt the Tuscans' pride and, for this purpose, insisted that all ordinances she issued were published in both the French and Italian languages. During her reign as Grand Duchess of Tuscany, she strove to obey the Emperor's directives. From his exile in Saint-Helena, Napoleon praised the manner in which his sister ruled over her territories. In his memoirs, he would describe her as a " master woman, prodigiously active and blessed with a degree of knowledge of her cabinet's affairs superior to that of her most able diplomat". Further to this "she was not afraid of standing up to one of her ministers if she happened to have a differing opinion". Elisa's position in Tuscany became increasingly fragile, as the pace of her brother's defeats gathered momentum. When the Neapolitan troops entered the city of Florence, she quickly fled to Lucques, hoping to find peace. But she was soon to be disillusioned and departed for Montpelier, in an attempt to outmanoeuvre the Allies' advancing troops. The Austrians eventually authorized her to settle in Bologna. When Napoleon escaped from Elba in 1815, Elisa was suspected of having had some foreknowledge of the plan. This was later proved to be wrong, but she nevertheless was banished to Briinn, where Bacciochi soon rejoined her. Elisa's correspondence reveals that she was shocked and distressed at having been treated as a war criminal. After Waterloo, the authorities continued to keep a close eye on her. It was only when her old ally Metternich enabled her to settle in Trieste - on the condition that she renounce her titles - that she began to lead a relatively normal existence. Elisa purchased an elegant villa in the suburbs of Trieste, where she died aged 43, having led a nomadic, albeit eventful existence.