Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 18, 1997

LOT 8

Breguet, Pendule a trois roues, (No. 173), made in 1792, sold to Breguet on 20 March 1793, for 1820 Francs. Presented by Breguet to Laplace who later gave it to Magendie. In 1855, at the death of Magendie, this clock came into the family De Puisaye. Extremely important eight day going weight driven skeleton three-wheel clock with equation of time, Republican and Gregorian calendars and thermometer.

CHF 0 - 0

Sold: CHF 927,500

C. Gilt brass frame, the front bar engraved with the days of the week. D. Revolving silvered brass ring for the 24 hours, with Arabic hours, 10 minute numerals and 2 minute divisions, attached by friction springs to the barrel arbor and making one revolution in 24 hours, mean time indicated by a blued steel pointer, solar time by the gilt sun hand. An applied silvered sector on the front pillar marking the minutes up to 10, with a three-pointed star hand, the silver seconds ring attached to the escape wheel, with blued steel pointer attached to the plate. Gregorian and Republican year calendars engraved on the revolving silvered ring at the base, the equation cam affixed to the back and driven from the hour wheel by a single pin advancing 1 tooth every 24 hours, able to be disengaged to correct for the leap- year. A plumb bob fitted for levelling, the cord doubling as the date indicator. Upper surface of the weights marking the day of the week as they descend. M. Double weights with single barrel, pin-wheel escapement with halfseconds beating gridiron pendulum, jewelled knifeedge and needle-point suspension, the vase-shaped counter-weight mounted on the bimetallic compensation bar, with a sector-shaped scale at the front to indicate the effects of temperature change. Accompanied by Breguet certificate No. 2681, delivered on 23 December 1925, attesting the clock was presented by Breguet to the physician Laplace who gave it to Magendie and later belong to the de Puisaye family. Height: 52 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 2

Very good

Notes

Provenance: The property of an important American family since the 1920 ' s. Formerly in the Dollfus Collection. History: The certificate of this clock, delivered by Mr. Brown on 23 December 1925, attests that it was given by Breguet himself to Laplace. Therefore, it would appear to be No. 173, from the second series, that Breguet had purchased for himself on 20 March 1793, for 1820 Francs. According to the archives, the clock was begun on 22 February 1792. Movement and base made by Breguet 400 Completed with escapement Le Maire 400 The frame made by Deshorde. This clock appears to be the first made upon the principles conceived by Breguet in July 1787 and described in the sealed envelope No. 267, deposited at the Academie Royale des Sciences on 3 February 1788. The sealed envelope was open at the request of Louis Breguet on 5 December 1881. Two other clocks of this type were produced by Breguet with the assistance of Samuel Roy in La Chaux-de-Fonds, during his exile iii Switzerland from 1793 to 1795. The last one was produced some 20 years later. The property of Jaques Breguet when it was exhibited in Paris at the Palais Galliera, in October 1923, on the centenary of the death of Abrahm Louis Breguet, No. 5 of the catalogue. About this clock, which is described and illustrated by Georges Anquetin in the Journal Suisse d ' Horlogerie, 16th year, December 1891. As a conclusion to his description, Georges Anquetin , one of the best clock-maker of the ti me, wrote: We felt that it was important to publish this rudimentary description because from a certain viewpoint we felt it could be put forward that this work is possibly the highest expression of the author' s talent. This assertion is corroborated by the fact that he chose this work, over others perhaps even more i mportant, to keep it at home, close to him, as if it were a child one cherishes and whose qualities are those one had hoped to give him. From the four three wheel clocks known to survive, the later one is now in the collection of the M.I.H. (Musee international d'Horlogerie) in la Chaux-de: Fonds, the three other, including the clock now offered for sell, are in private collection.