5,664 CHF
"King Victor Emmanuel of Italy Presentation Watch" Hausmann & Co. , Rome, made in Switzerland, No. 1010857, case No. 1032855. Made circa 1915. Very fine, 18K gold and enamel keyless pocket watch with the original velvet-covered fitted presentation box mounted with the cypher and crown of Victor Emmanuel. Four-body, "bassine", frosted, curved bezel, the hinged back cover decorated with the translucent dark blue enamel cipher and crown of Victor Emmanuel. Hinged gold cuvette. White enamel, black Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds, blued steel "spade" hands. Notes Victor Emmanuel Victor Emmanuel, the son of King Umberto I, was born in Naples, Italy, in 1869. He came to the throne when his father was assassinated at Monza in 1900. He was so small that he was nicknamed the 'dwarf' by Kaiser Wilhelm II. On the outbreak of the First World War, Victor Emmanuel agreed with his government that Italy should remain neutral. However, at a secret meeting held in England on 26th April 1915, representatives of the Italian government agreed to enter the war in return for financial help and the granting of land currently under the control of Austria - Hungary. After a series of riots in 1922, the king appointed Benito Mussolini as prime minister in an attempt to prevent a communist revolution in Italy. Mussolini headed a coalition of fascists and nationalists and parliamentary government continued until the murder of the socialist leader, Giacomo Matteotti Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2006-04-02
