THE ART OF BREGUET
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991
LOT 44
Au Maréchal Ney Watch No. 2121, sold on 10 February 1813, for the sum of 3000 Francs. Gold watch with half quarter-repeating, constructed on the principals of the "gardetemps". Short gold chain and seal engraved with the Arms of the Marshal.
CHF 80,000 - 100,000
Sold: CHF 92,000
Case: 18ct., three body, quatre bagucttes form, by Tavernier, No. 3076, the band engine-turned à .,'
rains d'orge, the interior of the cover engraved: "
Maréchal Ney 10 Février 1813". Gold cuvette,
signed: "Breguet, No.2121".
Dial: White enamel, signed: "Breguet et Fils",
with Breguet numerals, secret signature beneath "
12" (very small restoration on the border of the
dial, covered by the bezel). Blued-steel Breguet
hands.
Movement: Gilt brass, 17"', bar caliber,
counterpoised straight line lever escapment with
draw and long lever. Bimetallic three-arm
compensation balance with inset adjusting
screws, with parachutes on both pivots. Blued-steel
spring with terminal curve. Repeating on a single
gong with one hammer with pull-twist piston in
the pendant.
In good condition.
Diam. 50 mm.
Notes
History: The repair books indicate that this watch was completely restored on 13 January 1852, at
the request of Monsieur le Duc d'Elchingen,
Brigade General at Mans in la Sarthe. At the
same time the first dial, bearing Turkish
numerals was replaced with the present example,
and the inscription engraved on the interior of the
back.
MICHEL NEY Maréchal de France, Duc d'Elchingen, Prince de la Moskowa (1769-1815)
Marshal Ney of the French Empire was born in 1769 at Sarrelouis. He was the son of a cooper and blacksmith, and apprenticed to a local lawyer at the age of 13. In 1788, however, he ran away to join the army. His conduct during his first campaign in 1792 earned him the title of L'Indéfatigable. He became a captain in 1794 and distinguished himself particularly by the campaign in Germany in 1796. He took Würzburg and Pforzheim and was given the rank as Brigadier Général before the Treaty of Campo- Formio. He was commanding one hundred and fifty soldiers when he took Mannheim by surprise in 1798. This led him to become General of Division. Marshal Ney was a modest man, willing to hurl himself into battle at decisive and critical moments to inspire his troops. He rose to heights of courage, resourcefulness, imagination and inspired improvisation that spurred on the troops he led to call him Le Brave des Brazes. In 1800, he fought a very decisive battle in Hohenlinden under Général Moreau 's command. First Consul Bonaparte made him part of the social and military world of the Consulate in 1802 and gave him the title General Inspector of the Cavalry and Plenipotentiary of the Helvetic Republics, when he rejoined the Swiss Cantons to the Act of Mediation. In May 1804, Ney was gazetted Marshal of the Empire, shortly after Napoleon's self-proclamation as hereditary Emperor of the French. Ney won the victory at Elchingen on October 14, 1805 and Mack was compelled to capitulate in Ulm. Then he conquered Tyrol, for which Napoleon created him Duke of Elchingen and Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honour. Ney was also active in the defeat of the Russians at Friedland on June 14, 1807. He was sent to Spain in 1808 to fight against the guerilleros in Galicia and the Asturias. He conquered Ciudad Rodrigo in Portugal in 1810, and then went on to protect the retreat at Massena. In 1812, he was nominated to command the 3rd Corps of the Grand Army for the Russian campaign, which also re-established his position : he beat the Russians at Ostrovno, conquered Smolensk and covered himself with at glory of Battle of Borodino. Consequently, Napoleon made him Prince de la Moskowa. On the disastrous retreat from Russia, Ney was in command of the rear guard and led the passage of the shrunken army to Beresina. In the German campaigns of 1813, Ney distinguished himself yet again at Lutzern and at Bautzen. He was, however, defeated at Dennewitz by Bulow. During the invasion of France, Ney, once again, was successful in a series of battles. However, Ney was tired of marching, persuaded Napoleon to abdicate and took an oath of fidelity to Louis XVII1. Ney retained his rank and titles, was nominated Pair de France and Governor of Besançon. He was ordered to take principal command in the district of Besançon and arrest the defeated Emperor on his return from the Isle of Elba in March 1815. He promised the king that he would bring back Napoleon "in an iron cage". At Auxerre, on March 18, however, he followed the feelings of the population in his district and decided to join Napoleon. His soldiers and the populace welcomed his population He was put in charge of the left flank and once again, in the Battle of Quatre Bras on July 16, 1815, he revealed his great courage under fire. His conduct at Waterloo, however, was careless. While using his best cavalry to fight the English on Mont Saint Jean his attitude was said to be suicidal and irresponsible. Five horses died under him during this battle. Outlawed on July 24, after Napoleon had been exiled to St. Helena, Ney was now forced to hide from the rest of the world. He was found near Aurillac and was first put before the courtmartial who refused to try him. Louis XVIII, however, had not forgiven him for the treason committed, and so he was tried by the Upper Chamber. On December 6, 1815, he was sentenced to death despite the speeches of defence by Berrer and Dupin. He was shot the following morning near the Observatory. His memoirs were published posthumously in 1833. His statue which was sculpted by Rude was erected in 1853.
MICHEL NEY Maréchal de France, Duc d'Elchingen, Prince de la Moskowa (1769-1815)
Marshal Ney of the French Empire was born in 1769 at Sarrelouis. He was the son of a cooper and blacksmith, and apprenticed to a local lawyer at the age of 13. In 1788, however, he ran away to join the army. His conduct during his first campaign in 1792 earned him the title of L'Indéfatigable. He became a captain in 1794 and distinguished himself particularly by the campaign in Germany in 1796. He took Würzburg and Pforzheim and was given the rank as Brigadier Général before the Treaty of Campo- Formio. He was commanding one hundred and fifty soldiers when he took Mannheim by surprise in 1798. This led him to become General of Division. Marshal Ney was a modest man, willing to hurl himself into battle at decisive and critical moments to inspire his troops. He rose to heights of courage, resourcefulness, imagination and inspired improvisation that spurred on the troops he led to call him Le Brave des Brazes. In 1800, he fought a very decisive battle in Hohenlinden under Général Moreau 's command. First Consul Bonaparte made him part of the social and military world of the Consulate in 1802 and gave him the title General Inspector of the Cavalry and Plenipotentiary of the Helvetic Republics, when he rejoined the Swiss Cantons to the Act of Mediation. In May 1804, Ney was gazetted Marshal of the Empire, shortly after Napoleon's self-proclamation as hereditary Emperor of the French. Ney won the victory at Elchingen on October 14, 1805 and Mack was compelled to capitulate in Ulm. Then he conquered Tyrol, for which Napoleon created him Duke of Elchingen and Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honour. Ney was also active in the defeat of the Russians at Friedland on June 14, 1807. He was sent to Spain in 1808 to fight against the guerilleros in Galicia and the Asturias. He conquered Ciudad Rodrigo in Portugal in 1810, and then went on to protect the retreat at Massena. In 1812, he was nominated to command the 3rd Corps of the Grand Army for the Russian campaign, which also re-established his position : he beat the Russians at Ostrovno, conquered Smolensk and covered himself with at glory of Battle of Borodino. Consequently, Napoleon made him Prince de la Moskowa. On the disastrous retreat from Russia, Ney was in command of the rear guard and led the passage of the shrunken army to Beresina. In the German campaigns of 1813, Ney distinguished himself yet again at Lutzern and at Bautzen. He was, however, defeated at Dennewitz by Bulow. During the invasion of France, Ney, once again, was successful in a series of battles. However, Ney was tired of marching, persuaded Napoleon to abdicate and took an oath of fidelity to Louis XVII1. Ney retained his rank and titles, was nominated Pair de France and Governor of Besançon. He was ordered to take principal command in the district of Besançon and arrest the defeated Emperor on his return from the Isle of Elba in March 1815. He promised the king that he would bring back Napoleon "in an iron cage". At Auxerre, on March 18, however, he followed the feelings of the population in his district and decided to join Napoleon. His soldiers and the populace welcomed his population He was put in charge of the left flank and once again, in the Battle of Quatre Bras on July 16, 1815, he revealed his great courage under fire. His conduct at Waterloo, however, was careless. While using his best cavalry to fight the English on Mont Saint Jean his attitude was said to be suicidal and irresponsible. Five horses died under him during this battle. Outlawed on July 24, after Napoleon had been exiled to St. Helena, Ney was now forced to hide from the rest of the world. He was found near Aurillac and was first put before the courtmartial who refused to try him. Louis XVIII, however, had not forgiven him for the treason committed, and so he was tried by the Upper Chamber. On December 6, 1815, he was sentenced to death despite the speeches of defence by Berrer and Dupin. He was shot the following morning near the Observatory. His memoirs were published posthumously in 1833. His statue which was sculpted by Rude was erected in 1853.