6,325 CHF
Victor Emmanuel Swiss, made for Hausmann & Co. , Roma by order of King Victor Emmanuel, circa 1900. Fine 18K gold and enamel keyless presentation watch in original presentation box. Four-body, “bassine”, polished with enameled initials “VE” in translucent imperial blue enamel surmounted by a crown en suite, gold hinged cuvette. White enamel, Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions, sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued steel “spade” hands. Notes Victor Emmanuel III 1869-1947 King of Italy July 29, 1900 - May 9, 1946, Emperor of Ethiopia 1936 - 1943 and King of Albania 1939 - 1943. The son and successor of Humbert I, in 1896 he married Princess Helena of Montenegro. Though involved with Germany and Austria-Hungary in the Triple Alliance, he sought cordial relations with France and Great Britain. He favored the war of 1911–12 against Turkey, thus acquiring Libya. Though first advocating neutrality, he finally joined 1915 the Allies in World War I. He was unable to handle the confused internal situation of Italy after the war, refused to oppose the Fascist march on Rome, and asked 1922 Mussolini to form a government. Under the Fascist regime he was king in name only, but Mussolini's conquests added to his list of titles. During World War II, when the Fascist grand council voted 1943 against continued support of Mussolini, the king dismissed the dictator, placed him under arrest, and named Pietro Badoglio premier. German troops occupied Rome after Italy surrendered to the Allies,
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-11-14