256,500 CHF
Breguet et Fils, No. 3344, sold to Prince Scherbatoff on August 20, 1819 for 2400 francs. Very fine small 8 day-going mahogany single-barrel table alarm and Grande et Petite Sonnerie striking quarter-repeating carriage clock with special experimental escapement and visible striking works. Accompanied by original red morocco fitted traveling box and Breguet certificate. Rectangular, veneered with slightly extended base, back panel sliding vertically to reveal the movement, glazed gilt brass medaillon in the top to see the movement, gilt brass laurel leaf bezel, gilt brass bun feet. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute ring. Blued steel Breguet hands with polished steel index alarm hand. Notes The present clock is interesting for its provenance and its technical characteristics. After Prince Sherbatoff returned the clock, probably exchanging it for a watch, it was resold by Breguet to one of his best clients, General Yermoloff.Breguet fitted the clock with a special type of escapement, to date unrecorded. It is a calibrated lateral lever escapement with upright pallets. Banking, facilitated by a pin set on the tail of the lever, takes place within a circular opening. Breguet appears to have been the first to realize that in the lever escapement there is less torque delivered on the balance from the entry pallet than from the exit pallet. In his early lever escapements, he equalized torque by making the entry pallet convex and the exit one concave.As the prese Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2003-10-11
