Exceptional Horological Works of Art

Geneva, Oct 19, 2002

LOT 147

Breguet, No. 2516, sold to Baron de Blome for 2000 Francs in 1811. Exceptionally rare and equally fine eight-day going gilt brass astronomical Grande et Petite Sonnerie carriage clock with perpetual calendar, phases of the moon, year indication, alarm and special escapement in original leather fitted box. Accompanied by Breguet certi-ficate.

CHF 1 - 1

EUR 1 - 1

Sold: CHF 1,048,500

C. Rectangular, glazed on all sides and the top, rectangular plinth with molded surbase chased with scrolling and finished at each corner with lion paws, glazed side panels in gilt frames with beaded edges, molded cornice, gilt handle with tassels in the center hinged from the lions? mouths, small four finials, bun feet, push-button at the top to activate repeater. D. Gilt metal, engine-turned, the top with circular aperture for silver hour and minute chapters with champlevé radial Roman numerals, outer minute track with five-minute Arabic markers, above 6 o?clock phases of the moon aperture, below 6 o?clock year aperture and at the bottom three apertures for silver sub-dials for days of the week, date and months, moon phases, on the lower edge to the left lever for changing from petite to grande sonnerie, to the right striking/silence lever, silver alarm setting sub-dial set on the back plate. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Rectangular, 81 x 66 mm., frosted gilt, triple train, going barrels, platform with naturel escapement, two-arm cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold and steel screws with cuts in the centers of the rims, the screws mounted on special brackets, blued steel Breguet balance spring mounted to adjustable stud, entire escapement jeweled with endstones, impulse faces with 23 inserted jewels, gold dart, pare-chute on both balance pivots, rack-type striking, two large 3-turn gongs, three hammers, one for the alarm. Signed on dial and movement. Dim. Height 16 cm., width 9 cm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

The carriage clock, as we know it today, was designed and invented by Breguet about 1795. In 1798 he sold his first to Napoleon Bonaparte (No. 178, sold by Antiquorum on April 14, 1991, lot No. 10). The next client to purchase a carriage clock was the Duke de Praslin, who in 1802 bought one with the serial No. 1992. A comparison of the serial numbers shows that not many carriage clocks were made between that of the Duke of Praslin and the present one. An examination of Breguet?s early carriage clocks demonstrates the degree to which he was ahead of his times. The carriage clocks of the late 19th century and even the 20th century differ very little from those of Breguet. Indeed, although the basic movements are strikingly similar, the more recent clocks rarely match those of Breguet in finish and complication. Breguet made approximately 90 carriage clocks, many of them in mahogany cases. Those in gilt brass cases are scarce and rarely come onto the market. To this particular clock, which Breguet called "Pendule à quatre parties", he seems to have devoted particular attention and care. Researching the Breguet records, it appears that this is his only carriage clock fitted with an "échappement naturel". This is a very special escapement, based on the principle of the chronometer escapement, but with impulses in both directions. It requires two escape wheels and a special detent locking and unlocking them. It is far from being a simple escapement and Breguet employed it only in his best timekeepers, making a total of fewer than 30 instances known. He also gave special attention to this "échappement naturel", placing elastic suspension on both pivots to minimalize the risk of breaking the balance if the clock was dropped. He jeweled the entire platform, at a time when jeweling was very expensive and still infrequent on the continent. Breguet, in fact, brought back a certain Mr. Hooker, master watch jeweler, from one of his trips to England. The finish of the perpetual calendar is superior and the employment of the year indication (a 13-year disc) is most unusual; we know of no other similar application of it. In 1923 the clock was chosen by the House of Breguet to represent their achievements in a prestigious exhibition, "Le Centenaire de A.L. Breguet" held in Paris? Musée Galliera. The clock is described and illustrated in "The Art of Breguet" by George Daniels, fig. 223 and p. 67.