25,960 CHF
Emperor Maximilian I Swiss, circa 1865. Fine 18K gold half-hunting keyless Royal presentation watch. To be sold without reserve Five-body, “bassine”, engine-turned, back with applied gold initials “MMI” (Maximilian, Imperator) surmounted by a crown, frontal dial aperture surrounded by applied gold ring with engraved letters “MAXIMILIANO E”, gold hinged cuvette with applied gold Imperial crown. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary sunk seconds. Blued steel double “spade” hands. 42 mm. (19’’’), nickel, bar caliber, 15 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, uncut bimetallic balance with flat balance spring. Signed on the cuvette under the applied coat-of-arms. Diam. 49 mm. Notes Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph of Habsburg (1832-1867), Maximilian I of Mexico Born on July 6, 1832, he was the son of Sophie, Archduchess of Austria and Franz Karl, Habsburg Archduke and son of the reigning Emperor. Maximilian’s older brother Franz Joseph became Emperor, while he himself chose a career in the imperial navy. In 1857 Franz Joseph appointed his brother governor-general of the Austrian-held provinces of northern Italy, the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. Maximilian took up residence at Monza outside Milan with his bride, Princess Charlotte of Belgium, the daughter of King Leopold of Belgium and Louise d’Orléans. Although he had begun to win the sympathies of the Italians, his liberal ideas were frowned on in Vienna. In 1859, Franz Joseph removed h
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2006-11-12
