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Lot 109
The Labanoff/Downshire Breguet. A very fine, early 19th century French ormolu, quarter repeating, astronomic carriage clock timepiece with alarm, moonphase and calendar. With later bespoke travelling case and double ended key. With certificate number 4183 confirming its sale on 6th October 1821 to Madame la Marquise de Downshire for 4800 Francs. Breguet et Fils, No. 2963
11 December 2019, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £196,666.67 inc. premium
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The Labanoff/Downshire Breguet. A very fine, early 19th century French ormolu, quarter repeating, astronomic carriage clock timepiece with alarm, moonphase and calendar. With later bespoke travelling case and double ended key. With certificate number 4183 confirming its sale on 6th October 1821 to Madame la Marquise de Downshire for 4800 Francs.
Breguet et Fils, No. 2963
the case with engine turned inverted breakfront top surmounted by a loop handle with bar-and-tassle centre section pivotted between a pair of lions head pommels, with ball finials and a central repeat button passing through the oval glass, set over a flowerhead and scroll cornice supported on reeded pilasters, the plinth with anthemion and flowerhead decoration on knurled feet, (the front left hand foot punch numbered 2963), the sides with glazed panels, the front and rear doors with cast ribbon-tied frame, the underside with five circular sound apertures.
The dial:
Protected by a bevelled glazed door with cast frame, the silvered Roman dial with outer dotted minute track enclosing the hour numerals and an inner Arabic track reversed 12-1 for the alarm, the top half of the dial centre taken up by the rolling moon, his gold face engraved on a disc against a starry sky, over a finely engine turned lower section, the whole set within a very finely engine turned gilt mask with rose gold escutcheons for the alarm setting and winding arbors and the main movement winding square - the latter also containing the year calendar, further set with three chamfered apertures presenting the day of the week, date and month, over the applied rose gold signature and numeral plaques 'Breguet et fils' and 'No.2963.'
The movement:
of eight day duration and with jewelled lever escapement, the cut and compensated bimetallic balance mounted on a single cock on the backplate with flat blued steel hairspring and Breguet's parachute suspension, repeating the hours and the quarters on depression of the button above, sounding on a single bell with a single hammer - a single blow for the hour and a rapid double blow to represent every fifteen minutes past the hour. The alarm struck on the same bell but with a smaller hammer.
The presentation case:
Based on an early 19th century original, covered in crimson leather and with gilt Greek key borders to five sides, the sides locking together with two top-mounted shield-shaped clasps (one larger than the other, as is often the case) and centrally hinged to allow for easy access to the clock within, with numbered removable protective front cover, and stamped to the underside 'Breguet Pere et Fils. Quai de L'Horloge du Palais No. 79' 14.5cms (5.5ins) high.
the case with engine turned inverted breakfront top surmounted by a loop handle with bar-and-tassle centre section pivotted between a pair of lions head pommels, with ball finials and a central repeat button passing through the oval glass, set over a flowerhead and scroll cornice supported on reeded pilasters, the plinth with anthemion and flowerhead decoration on knurled feet, (the front left hand foot punch numbered 2963), the sides with glazed panels, the front and rear doors with cast ribbon-tied frame, the underside with five circular sound apertures.
The dial:
Protected by a bevelled glazed door with cast frame, the silvered Roman dial with outer dotted minute track enclosing the hour numerals and an inner Arabic track reversed 12-1 for the alarm, the top half of the dial centre taken up by the rolling moon, his gold face engraved on a disc against a starry sky, over a finely engine turned lower section, the whole set within a very finely engine turned gilt mask with rose gold escutcheons for the alarm setting and winding arbors and the main movement winding square - the latter also containing the year calendar, further set with three chamfered apertures presenting the day of the week, date and month, over the applied rose gold signature and numeral plaques 'Breguet et fils' and 'No.2963.'
The movement:
of eight day duration and with jewelled lever escapement, the cut and compensated bimetallic balance mounted on a single cock on the backplate with flat blued steel hairspring and Breguet's parachute suspension, repeating the hours and the quarters on depression of the button above, sounding on a single bell with a single hammer - a single blow for the hour and a rapid double blow to represent every fifteen minutes past the hour. The alarm struck on the same bell but with a smaller hammer.
The presentation case:
Based on an early 19th century original, covered in crimson leather and with gilt Greek key borders to five sides, the sides locking together with two top-mounted shield-shaped clasps (one larger than the other, as is often the case) and centrally hinged to allow for easy access to the clock within, with numbered removable protective front cover, and stamped to the underside 'Breguet Pere et Fils. Quai de L'Horloge du Palais No. 79' 14.5cms (5.5ins) high.
Footnotes
The accompanying certificate gives a fascinating insight into the history of this clock. The Marquise of Downshire was evidently the clock's second owner. The first was Prince Labanoff, who paid Breguet 4200 Francs for it on 16 September 1820. For reasons unknown, it was returned to its maker just three weeks later. Remarkably, Breguet was able to then sell it to Downshire for nearly 15% more.
Lady Maria Windsor (1790 - 7 April 1855), was wife of Arthur Hill, 3rd Marquess of Downshire. Her husband was an Anglo-Irish peer, a Whig politician and a supporter of the Irish language, as well as President of the Ulster Gaelic Society.
Prince Labanoff Alexander (1788-1866) was a Russian bibliophile and collector of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, memorabilia. He travelled extensively throughout Europe seeking rare books, portraits and letters to add to his collection. He published Mary Stuart's letters in 1844, the English edition was dedicated to Queen Victoria.