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Lot 104
A fine early 19th century French ormolu quarter repeating carriage clock timepiece with running seconds and alarm, in the original presentation case with double ended winding/setting key. Sold to the Honourable Mr Agar Elis on the 29 August 1825 for 2,400 Francs, with certificate. Breguet et Fils, Number 4222 2
11 December 2019, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £100,062.50 inc. premium
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A fine early 19th century French ormolu quarter repeating carriage clock timepiece with running seconds and alarm, in the original presentation case with double ended winding/setting key. Sold to the Honourable Mr Agar Elis on the 29 August 1825 for 2,400 Francs, with certificate.
Breguet et Fils, Number 4222
The case:
Of architectural form, surmounted by a folding cast anthemion handle over a bevelled oval glass panel and an upright cresting to all four sides, the top further set with a button to activate the quarter repeat on demand, and a pull cord to wind the alarm train, the cornice and corner uprights all cast with berried laurel leaves, to an inverted breakfront base engraved to the centre section 'N.4222', raised on bun feet (the rear left hand numbered again 4222).
The dial:
the Roman chapter ring with outer dotted minute markers and inner dotted quarter hours, inset with a subsidiary dial for running seconds at XII, with fine blued steel Breguet moon hands, the alarm hand of tapered form and reading against the inner quarter hour track, set from a steel square to the side of the IIII numeral, framed by a finely engine turned gilt mask with matching centre.
The movement:
Of eight day duration, the single spring barrel movement wound through the front of the dial and with high count pinions throughout, terminating in a large gilt platform mounted between the plates with an aperture to frame the 'scape wheel and in-line lever escapement, the compensated bimetallic balance with gold timing screws, Breguet's overcoiled blued steel spring and parachute suspension. Repeating the hours and the quarters on demand via a single steel-headed hammer on a highly polished bell mounted to the backplate. The alarm train set from a steel square at the IIII position, and wound independently by pulling a cord, sounding on the same bell but with a larger hammer.
The presention case:
Of red leather with Greek key pattern gilt tooling to six of the edges, the sides hinged half way along their length in order to allow for the two sides to fold back on themselves to allow for easy removal of the clock, the top section with original gilt brass latches (one larger than the other) and hinged shaped cover to protect the repeat button, the interior of the case lined in green velvet and with bespoke recess in the base to secure the original double ended winding and hand-setting key.
16.5cms (6.5ins) high. (2)
The case:
Of architectural form, surmounted by a folding cast anthemion handle over a bevelled oval glass panel and an upright cresting to all four sides, the top further set with a button to activate the quarter repeat on demand, and a pull cord to wind the alarm train, the cornice and corner uprights all cast with berried laurel leaves, to an inverted breakfront base engraved to the centre section 'N.4222', raised on bun feet (the rear left hand numbered again 4222).
The dial:
the Roman chapter ring with outer dotted minute markers and inner dotted quarter hours, inset with a subsidiary dial for running seconds at XII, with fine blued steel Breguet moon hands, the alarm hand of tapered form and reading against the inner quarter hour track, set from a steel square to the side of the IIII numeral, framed by a finely engine turned gilt mask with matching centre.
The movement:
Of eight day duration, the single spring barrel movement wound through the front of the dial and with high count pinions throughout, terminating in a large gilt platform mounted between the plates with an aperture to frame the 'scape wheel and in-line lever escapement, the compensated bimetallic balance with gold timing screws, Breguet's overcoiled blued steel spring and parachute suspension. Repeating the hours and the quarters on demand via a single steel-headed hammer on a highly polished bell mounted to the backplate. The alarm train set from a steel square at the IIII position, and wound independently by pulling a cord, sounding on the same bell but with a larger hammer.
The presention case:
Of red leather with Greek key pattern gilt tooling to six of the edges, the sides hinged half way along their length in order to allow for the two sides to fold back on themselves to allow for easy removal of the clock, the top section with original gilt brass latches (one larger than the other) and hinged shaped cover to protect the repeat button, the interior of the case lined in green velvet and with bespoke recess in the base to secure the original double ended winding and hand-setting key.
16.5cms (6.5ins) high. (2)
Footnotes
Sold to the Honourable Mr Agar Elis on the 29 August 1825 for 2,400 Francs.
George Agar-Ellis, 1st Baron Dover (1797-1833) was a politician and man of letters. In 1824 he was the leading promoter of the grant for the purchase of John Julius Angerstein's collection of pictures, which formed the foundation of the National Gallery. He was also a trustee of the British Museum.
Provenance:
Christie's London, November 1997.
Christie's London, July 2004.
The following eight lots represent the finest collection of Breguet carriage clocks anywhere in the world. The collection has been formed with the keenest eye for rarity, condition, quality and attention to detail. It encompasses almost every complication that Breguet devised for his travelling clocks, including his perpetual calendar mechanism (whereby the clock automatically recognises that February has an additional day every four years), phases and ages of the moon (crucial when travelling by land or sea at night-time), alarm, grande sonnerie striking (sounding both the hours and the quarters every fifteen minutes), petite sonnerie striking, (sounding the quarters every fifteen minutes), quarter and half-quarter repeating (giving the time on demand to the nearest seven and a half minutes), and even equation of time to automatically give the difference between solar time and mean time on any day of the year.
The earliest clock in the collection is clock number 179, (lot 106), sold to the King of Naples in 1804, indeed, it is only the second carriage clock ever made by the firm. The first, number 178, described as a Pendule Portative tres petite a Almanach , was sold to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798, just three and a half weeks before he embarked on his Egyptian Campaign. What is inescapable is that these clocks - like all those that followed - became an integral part of the owner's life, guiding them through their daily routines and giving crucial information. This is as true today as it was then.
Breguet carriage clocks can be categorised into two case types, although it is crucial to emphasise that within these categories, no two clocks are identical. Current research has uncovered less than 40 published clocks of either type made in the first hundred years.
The first form is rectangular, made in gilded brass and surmounted by a hinged handle. Decoration is inspired by the Empire style of the time, using Classical motifs as cast or applied details. Such is the attention to detail that even the lions head pommels and the tassels on the handle are all different combinations. More obvious differences are seen in the design of the cornice, pillars and base.
The second type – considered by some to be of even higher quality (see David Thompson Clocks in the British Museum, p138) are in solid silver in the form of a humpback case. Originally popular between about 1810 and 1830, this form is unlike any other made by anyone else, and in many ways was way ahead of its time. The form was revived later in the century (see lots 108 and 110) by the Breguet firm and then again in the early 20th century by Jump (see lot 112
Six of the clocks have travelling cases and all have certificates issued by the firm of Breguet confirming their original sale.