Exceptional Horological Works of Art

Geneva, Oct 19, 2002

LOT 116

Pendule Pyramidale and Muses Breguet, Pendule Pyramidale, No. 449, bronzes by Pierre-Philippe Thomire and Nicolas DelaFontaine dit Le Jeune, begun in 1805, sold to Monsieur Follope on March 10, 1827 for 3000 Francs. Exceptionally fine and rare gilt bronze 8 day-going double-barrel precision mantel regulator with overhanging pendulum and patented constant force chronometer escapement, dead seconds and hour and half-hour striking.

CHF 1 - 1

EUR 1 - 1

Sold: CHF 883,500

C. Pyramid-shaped on rectangular base, the frame of darkened bronze, side panels decorated with applied gilt bronze ornaments depicting Urania, the Muse of Astronomy, Calliope, the Muse of Philosophy, and Clio, the Muse of History, front finished at the top with a Medusa?s head on a sliding cylindrical fixture covering the pendulum suspension, matte and gilt frame, glazed front and back with beveled glass, gilt base with typical Empire pattern, turtle feet, the whole standing on Portor marble base with adjustable gilt bun feet. Platform escapement covered with gilt oval plate with bezel finished with beaded pattern, the plate is fixed with silvered pendulum amplitude plate and leveling pin and with sliding security device when traveling. D. White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute track. Blued steel Breguet hands. Winding apertures for the going train concealed under the bezel, which is flanked by Prudence, one of the four Cardinal Virtues, and the allegory of the Genius of Fame, with hinged foot revealing the striking winding aperture. Small silvered dial set on the platform escapement for the seconds. M. Rectangular, 24 x 11 cm., heavy brass plates, two large going barrels with stop-work for the going train, large platform with unusual Breguet constant force escapement with very interesting security device locking the train when the platform is taken out, the impulse is delivered via pivoted impulse pin fitted with a small gold adjustable weight, the gold sapphire-jeweled fly wheel pushes the locking detent up which in turn brings the impulse pin up. Rack striking train set outside the back plate, striking on a bell, special safety mechanism to allow the hands to be turned backwards. Brass-iron gridiron pendulum with heavy brass bob, sapphire impulse pin mounted on a special bracket for depth adjustment, gravity unlocking lever, knife-edge suspension, additional safety device preventing the pendulum from dropping too close into the escapement, preventing coincidental damage to the escapement when moving the clock, micrometric adjusting knob. Signed on the dial, the case punched twice with the serial number (between the pedestal and the pyramid, and the other at the top of the pyramid below the suspension sliding cover). Dim. 575 x 345 x 215 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3 - 21*
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

Of all Breguet clocks, "Pendules Pyramidales", along with the famous "Pendules à trois roues", "Pendules branlantes" and "Pendules sympathiques", are certainly the most representative of his genius. They are also the most decorative of his entire production. Breguet made only four "Pendules Pyramidales" in a pyramid shape: No. 448 Sold to Mr. Hottinguer in Brumaire An 8 (novembre 1799), for 2400 Francs, today in a Swiss private Collection. No. 449 The present clock No. 452 Sold to Mr. Sommariva on 17 Nivôse An 13 (7 janvier 1805), for 2400 Francs. Formerly in Bloomfield Collection, illustrated in "Art of Breguet" by George Daniels. No. 658 Sold to Prince de la Paix on June 27, 1808, for 4518 Francs. Its whereabouts are unknown; it is possibly in Spain. All are superbly designed and finished timepieces. Judging from the prices, it would appear that the present clock, along with that of the Prince de la Paix, were the most exceptional. This clock, one of only four, is even rarer because of the attention lavished on its case. The bronzes were made and finished by the famous Pierre-Philippe Thomire and Nicolas DelaFontaine. These artists presented Breguet with a bill of 1120 Francs, a tremendous amount at the time. Breguet also made a few clocks whose shape was not that of a pyramid, but which nevertheless are listed in the Breguet register as "Pendules Pyramidale". Most of them are called "Génie et Prudence" today, since the pendulum hangs between two allegorical figures representing Genius and Prudence. It is interesting to note that the front of the present clock is decorated with the same motif. From a technical point of view, the clock is unusual for its escapement. This is a reliable constant force escapement giving an impulse every second. Breguet was granted a patent for a constant force escapement for clocks on March 9, 1798. The two other known "Pendules Pyramidales" employ the well-known patented escapement, in which the impulse is given by the elastic force of a spring which is wound by the train, with no adjustment to the strength of the impulse. In the escapement of the present clock, however, the impulse is given by a lever with an adjustable weight at the end. The strength of the impulse is controlled by the position of the weight. The function of the movement is to lift this lever. It is achieved in a simple and reliable manner via the gold jeweled fly wheel described above. It appears that Breguet invented not one, but two constant force escapements. Furthermore, it appears that he implemented the other one in a very few clocks, only two of which are known; No. 123, dating from his years of partnership with Gide, before 1791, now in a private American collection, and No. 454, now in the Musée de l?horlogerie et de l?émaillerie in Geneva. It is interesting to note that No. 454 was also sold for 3000 Francs. Breguet apparently valued these clocks highly. Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) A sculptor, bronze-worker, caster and chaser, he was born in Paris on 5 December 1751, died in Paris on 9 June 1843. He was the son of Luc Philippe Thomire, a chaser. He studied at the Académie de Saint-Luc with Houdon and Pajou. His most important teacher, however, was the chaser Gouthière, whose work influenced Thomire up to the First Empire. Troubled by financial problems and unreliable in delivering his commissions on time, Gouthière abandoned the field to his young pupil. Having already come to the public?s notice in 1775 through his collaboration with Louis Prieur on the decoration of the Coronation coach of Louis XVI, Thomire went into business on his own account in 1776. Shortly afterwards, he took up the position left vacant at the Manufacture de Sèvres by the death of Jean-Claude Duplessis. The accounts of the Garde-Meuble record him as a supplier and collaborator of Benneman, furniture maker to Queen Marie-Antoi-nette. This has resulted in Thomire?s work being systematically attributed in error to Gouthière, for neither man systematically signed his work. In fact, it seems that at this period, Gouthière was no longer working. Thomire encountered success from the start, being appointed to the Court, bronze sculptor to the Manufacture de Sèvres, and supplier to the City of Paris. He gained a reputation as the best bronze artist of the reign of Louis XVI and of the First Empire. Nicolas DelaFontaine (called Le Jeune) was the son of a bronze caster. He learned the art with his father, became a master in Paris on June 3, 1788 and set up shop in the rue des Arcis. He was known for making bronze decorations during the Directoire and the Empire. He made some complete clocks, worked with Claude Galle and probably with others. The fact that he cooperated with Thomire and worked for Breguet has been unknown until now. We are greatful to Monsieur Jean-Dominique Augarde, expert and author of "Les Ouvries du Temps", Antiquorum Editions, for providing us with information about DelaFontaine.