Literature: Illustrated and described in G. Daniels, The Art of Breguet, p. 207, figs. 201a-d. Note: Both the decoration and technical features of this watch are typical of the finest examples made by Breguet for the Islamic market. In common with most of these "luxury" watches, usually ordered through Le Roy, Breguet's agent in Constantinople, there is a double or pair case and a striking train. It is interesting to note that these are virtually the only watches in his entire production which radically depart from the purely functional styling that so characterised his work. Nevertheless, the Near East represented an important market at the time, and watches with similar decoration on the cases were also produced in England and Switzerland.
SEYYID MEHMED E S 'A D E F F E N D I Official historiographer Ottoman scientist (1789 -1848) Es'Ad Effendi's father, who died accidentally in 1804 during his journey to Medina to take up the position of "Kadi", left his family in stark poverty. At a young age, Es'Ad Effendi took his holy orders and occupied various posts within the Church. In October 1825, he succeeded Shani-zade Ata Allah Efendi as "wak'a-nüwis", an important clerical position he was to occupy until his death twenty three years later. Thanks to his "Uss-i zafer", Es'Ad Effendi won the favor of the Turkish ruler of the time, Emperor Mahmud II, who awarded him the title of "Kadi" of the army in 1828, and subsequently that of "Kadi" of Uskudar. He was named director of the official newspaper "Takwim al-waka'i" from its very first day of publication in 1831. In September 1834, he was given the important position of "Kadi" of Istanbul and sent a year later to neighboring Persia to congratulate Muhammad Shah on his accession to the throne. A long and painful illness was to interrupt his career, but after the Tanzimat, Es'Ad Effendi became an active member of the "Medjlis-i ahkam-i adlyye", the Council of Legal Ordinances. Later, he was named "Nakib al-ashraf" and "Kadi Asker" of Rumeli, a position he occupied from 1843 to 1844. In 1845, Es'Ad Effendi played an important role in the primary school reforms and, as a result, was appointed to the Public Education Council, which he presided until his death. He is buried in the garden of the library he founded in the Yerebatan suburb of Istanbul. His collection of books, one of the most comprehensive in Turkey/ today, contains more than 3'700 manuscripts and may be admired in the public library of Suleymaniye.