210,000 CHF
"A Monsieur Sommariva", Presented to Prince Talleyrand Breguet, No. 295, sold to Monsieur Sommariva on 11 Vendémiaire, An 10 (October 2, 1802), for 2000 francs. Almost certainly the watch presented by Giovanni Battista de Sommariva to Prince Charles Maurice de Talleyrand to gain support for his political ambitions. Extremely fine and highly important, 18K gold minute-repeating pocket watch. Accompanied by an original fitted box. 48 mm. (21 1/2’’’), gilt brass full plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, cylinder escapement, steel escape wheel, plain brass three-arm flat-rim balance, blued steel flat balance spring, silver regulation dial, polished steel Stogden type repeating mechanism with gathering pallets being lifted when not striking, repeating with two hammers on two gongs, the governing pinion with spherical sleeve as a fly, adjustable bushing to regulate the speed of striking, activated by depressing the pendant. Dial, dust cap and movement signed. Diam. 53 mm. Notes It is generally accepted that the present watch, No. 295, is almost certainly the “extremely expensive” watch given by Sommariva to the Prince de Talleyrand. This watch was the first of Sommariva’s purchases from Breguet and during the years 1801 and 1802 he was trying to burnish his reputation in Paris. Sommariva cherished visions of himself at the head of the new Italian state and to this end he presented the Empress Josephine with a diamond rivière, which was promptly returned, and Talleyr
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2006-10-15
