THE ART OF BREGUET
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991
LOT 36
A Monsieur le Duc de Norfolk Watch No. 3388, sold on 29 August 1821, for the sum of 2400 Francs. Gold hunting-cased watch of "première classe" with half quarter-repeating. Original gold key.
CHF 80,000 - 120,000
Case: 18 ct., three body, quatre baguettes form, by Tavernier, No.3675, engine-turned a grains d'orge.
Gold cuvette signed: "Breguet, Horlogers de la
Marine Royale, No. 3388".
Dial: Engine-turned silver, protected by a glass,
with Roman numerals on a plain reserve,
subsidiary seconds at "Ill", secret signatures on
either side of "XII". Blued-steel Breguet hands.
Movement: Gilt brass, 21"', bar caliber, with ruby cylinder escapement, three-arm plain brass
balance, with parachute on the top pivot. Bluedsteel
flat balance spring with bimetallic
compensation curb on the regulator. Repeating on
one gong with a single hammer striking on a steel
intermediate spring block, with pull-twist piston
in the pendant.
In perfect condition.
Diam. 55 mm.
Notes
History: This watch was constructed between
1818 and 1820. The records show it was
consigned to a Monsieur Germain, on 16
September 1820, for the sum of 2400 Francs.
Subsequently returned and sent to Fatton in
London, for the same price, on 13 July 1821, it
was then sold to the Duke of Norfolk.
Note: This watch is a fine example of a Premiere Classe repeater in a hunter case.
The pull-twist repeating piston passes through
the pendant, and doubles as a case opening
push-piece by the addition of neatly arranged
interlocking levers mounted on the plate of the
movement.
As is the case with most of Breguet's huntercased
key wind watches, the dial is arranged with
the numerals XII adjacent to the pendant, in
contrast to the English makers and the vast
majority of keyless hunter watches where the III
appears in this position (see lot 30 for an
exception).
BERNARD EDWARD HOWARD 12th Duke of Norfolk Earl of Arundel, Earl of Surrey, Earl of Norfolk, Baron Fitz-Alan, Clun and Oswaldestre and Maltravers. The Premier Duke and Earl in the peerage of England next to the Blood Royal. Hereditary Earl Marshal of England. (1765 - 1842)
Born on 21 November 1765, eldest son of Henry Howard and Juliana, daughter of Sir William Molyneux, he suceeded to the Ducal honours when his cousin Charles, 11th Duke of Norfolk died in 1815. Unlike his predecessors, he was a devout Roman Catholic, and by an Act of Parliament passed in 1824, he was allowed to exercise his hereditary office of Earl Marshal ( he had been excluded due to his religion). After the passing of the Roman Catholic Relief Bill in 1829, he was admitted to the House of Lords and nominated as a Privy Councillor in 1830; he was elected a Knight of the Garter four years later. He was a well educated man, his early life was spent in comparative privacy (as a consequence of the penal laws), but due to his amiable and unaffected character he was surrounded by sincere friends. Though politically he did not have much influence, he was a great supporter of the Arts and Sciences, a generous benefactor, giving both to the Established church and to charities, and respected by his tenants as a kind and understanding landlord. In 1789 he married Lady Elizabeth Belasyse, daughter of the Earl of Fauconberg; they had an only son Henry, but after five years they were divorced and he remained single for the rest of his life. That the Howards are an ancient family is without doubt, and some historians argue that the line started with the infamous Hereward, who stood defiantly against William the Conqueror.The line however can be easily traced to William Howard, who was a large landowner in Norfolk and became chief justice there in 1297. His grandson, John was Admiral and Captain of the King's Navy and Sheriff of Norfolk, and by marrying Alice de Boys, who brought with her a considerable inheritance, he greatly increased the family fortunes. The families of Thomas de Mowbray - Duke of Norfolk and Richard Fitz- Alan, Earl of Arundel, became linked with the Howards when Sir Robert Howard married Margaret, daughter of Thomas de Mowbray, who was the grandson of Thomas Plantagenet, Earl of Norfolk, Marshal of England and the eldest son of Edward 1. Their son John, was an eminent Yorkist (partly due to his princely birth and magnificent fortune), who distinguished himself in the French wars of Henry VI, and in 1483 he was created Earl-Marshal of England and Duke of Norfolk. He died fighting for his sovereign Richard, at Bosworth Field. His son Thomas, Earl of Surrey, was also a renowned military commander, contributing to the victory at Flodden in 1513. His grandson, Henry was a notable statesman, warrior and poet, and one of the brightest and most gallant members of the House of Howard, but was iniquitously executed by Henry VIII, in what proved to be the King's last cruel act. Future generations of the Howards fell to the fate of the reigning monarch, being stripped of some of their many titles, and it was not until 1603, under James 1, that Thomas Howard had the title of Earl of Arundel restored to him, and in 1664 that of the Duke of Norfolk restored to his grandson, Thomas, by Act of Parliament.
BERNARD EDWARD HOWARD 12th Duke of Norfolk Earl of Arundel, Earl of Surrey, Earl of Norfolk, Baron Fitz-Alan, Clun and Oswaldestre and Maltravers. The Premier Duke and Earl in the peerage of England next to the Blood Royal. Hereditary Earl Marshal of England. (1765 - 1842)
Born on 21 November 1765, eldest son of Henry Howard and Juliana, daughter of Sir William Molyneux, he suceeded to the Ducal honours when his cousin Charles, 11th Duke of Norfolk died in 1815. Unlike his predecessors, he was a devout Roman Catholic, and by an Act of Parliament passed in 1824, he was allowed to exercise his hereditary office of Earl Marshal ( he had been excluded due to his religion). After the passing of the Roman Catholic Relief Bill in 1829, he was admitted to the House of Lords and nominated as a Privy Councillor in 1830; he was elected a Knight of the Garter four years later. He was a well educated man, his early life was spent in comparative privacy (as a consequence of the penal laws), but due to his amiable and unaffected character he was surrounded by sincere friends. Though politically he did not have much influence, he was a great supporter of the Arts and Sciences, a generous benefactor, giving both to the Established church and to charities, and respected by his tenants as a kind and understanding landlord. In 1789 he married Lady Elizabeth Belasyse, daughter of the Earl of Fauconberg; they had an only son Henry, but after five years they were divorced and he remained single for the rest of his life. That the Howards are an ancient family is without doubt, and some historians argue that the line started with the infamous Hereward, who stood defiantly against William the Conqueror.The line however can be easily traced to William Howard, who was a large landowner in Norfolk and became chief justice there in 1297. His grandson, John was Admiral and Captain of the King's Navy and Sheriff of Norfolk, and by marrying Alice de Boys, who brought with her a considerable inheritance, he greatly increased the family fortunes. The families of Thomas de Mowbray - Duke of Norfolk and Richard Fitz- Alan, Earl of Arundel, became linked with the Howards when Sir Robert Howard married Margaret, daughter of Thomas de Mowbray, who was the grandson of Thomas Plantagenet, Earl of Norfolk, Marshal of England and the eldest son of Edward 1. Their son John, was an eminent Yorkist (partly due to his princely birth and magnificent fortune), who distinguished himself in the French wars of Henry VI, and in 1483 he was created Earl-Marshal of England and Duke of Norfolk. He died fighting for his sovereign Richard, at Bosworth Field. His son Thomas, Earl of Surrey, was also a renowned military commander, contributing to the victory at Flodden in 1513. His grandson, Henry was a notable statesman, warrior and poet, and one of the brightest and most gallant members of the House of Howard, but was iniquitously executed by Henry VIII, in what proved to be the King's last cruel act. Future generations of the Howards fell to the fate of the reigning monarch, being stripped of some of their many titles, and it was not until 1603, under James 1, that Thomas Howard had the title of Earl of Arundel restored to him, and in 1664 that of the Duke of Norfolk restored to his grandson, Thomas, by Act of Parliament.