25,960 CHF
“To Thadée Todwen” Breguet, Horloger de la Marine Royale, No. 3966, sold to Devolue, Meuron & Cie on January 31, 1824 for 1,254 Francs. Very fine 20K gold quarter-repeating watch. Four-body, “Empire”, by Tavernier No. 3932, polished, gilt hinged cuvette. Silver, by Tavernier with the name THADEE TODWEN in the place of numerals, outer minute dot divisions, engine-turned center, secured by a screw. Blued steel Breguet hands. 48 mm. gilt brass, bridge caliber, Breguet ruby cylinder escapement, plain three-arm gilt balance, blued steel flat balance spring, parachute on the top pivot, compensating curb, repeating on two short gongs by two hammers by pull-and-twist piston on the band at 2 o’clock. Signed on the cuvette, movement, dial and case punched with serial number, case stamped with the casemaker’s mark and French guarantee marks. Diam. 53 mm. To be sold without reserve Notes This watch testifies to the commercial relationship between Breguet and the Meuron firm of Chaux-de-Fonds, who ordered the watch to be delivered to Thadée Todwen, a member of an old Polish noble family. Further proof of these professional ties is the fact that Breguet lost a box containing several pieces, destined to be delivered to his Paris firm, in the fire which destroyed much of Chaux-de-Fonds in 1794. Emmanuel Breguet, “Breguet, Horloger depuis 1775”, Alain de Gourcuff Editeur, 1997, p. 99.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2006-10-15
