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Lot Essay
It is fitting, in this 250th anniversary year of the Breguet brand, that such an exceptional and early Breguet travelling clock has been recently rediscovered in a private collection. Fresh to the market, the present small-size carriage clock is one of the very few gilt bronze ‘Pendule de Voyage à Almanach’ made in the first decade following Breguet’s invention of the portable carriage clock, making it of significant importance. Travelling or ‘carriage’ clocks were one of Breguet’s many remarkable inventions. Gilt bronze travelling clocks with glazed sides and tops, like the present clock, set the standard pattern for all subsequent carriage clocks.
Breguet’s first carriage clock, ‘Pendule à Almanach’ no. 178, was sold to Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798 and closely resembles the present clock. Breguet’s second ‘Pendule à Almanach’ no. 179, featuring a year calendar similar to the present clock, was sold to Ferdinand IV, King of Naples, in 1804. During the period between the production of these early ‘first series’ clocks and the present clock, only one other gilt bronze ‘Pendule à Almanach’ carriage clock was made:
- No. 2426, sold to Prince Don Antonio (Crown Prince of Spain) in Valencay on May 29, 1809, for 2,000 Francs.
- No. 2458, sold to Comte R. Zevausky on November 4, 1809, for 3,600 Francs – the present clock.
Breguet and the Carriage Clock
Breguet invented the small travelling timekeeper known as the carriage clock, which he referred to variously as 'pendule portative', 'pendule de carosse', 'pendule de voyage', and 'pendule portique'. Although no two clocks are identical, all feature quarter or half-quarter repeating and an alarm. In 1796, Breguet built his first carriage clock, no. 178, which was sold on 5 Floreal an 6 (April 24, 1798) for 1,500 Francs to Napoleon Bonaparte, just weeks before his Egyptian campaign. Described by Breguet as a 'Pendule Portative très petite à Almanach', this clock was later sold at Habsburg Antiquorum, Geneva, ‘The Art of Breguet,’ on April 14, 1991, for CHF 792,000. Today, it resides in the Swiss National Museum, Zurich.
Breguet’s second carriage clock, no. 179, was sold by Christie’s London on July 8, 2010, for £385,250. By the standards of the day, such travelling or ‘carriage’ clocks represented advanced technology, providing all necessary time-related information for wealthy travelers. In addition to the hours and minutes, the dial indicates the day, month, and year. When it is too dark to see the dial, a button on the top of the case can be pushed to make the clock strike the time to the last quarter hour. The clock also features an alarm, set by the number of hours of sleep desired rather than the time of waking.
Carriage clocks of a closely related design to Breguet’s first carriage clock no. 179 are few and none are as early as the present clock. Examples include:
- No. 2497, sold on June 9, 1810, to Prince Aldobrandini for 2,544 Francs.
- No. 2644, sold in 1811 to M. Giovanni Battista de Sommariva for 2,400 Francs.
- No. 2678, dated 1811 and sold to General Henry William Paget, Earl of Uxbridge, in 1813; now part of the Frick Collection, New York.
- No. 2607, sold in 1811 to Jeanneret for 2,880 Francs.
- No. 2898, sold in 1816 to M. Gerugross for 4,000 Francs; sold at Antiquorum Geneva on April 24, 2004, for SFR 553,500.
The Genius of Breguet
It is no exaggeration to say that the watches and clocks of Abraham-Louis Breguet were revolutionary, both in their technical and aesthetic superiority. His numerous inventions, including the tourbillon, equation of time applications, the first reliable self-winding watches, and the first carriage clocks, represented a quantum leap in fine watchmaking. His creations set the benchmark against which subsequent watchmakers have been measured.
In addition to his watchmaking genius, Breguet was an astute businessman and networker. The technical ingenuity and avant-garde appearance of his timepieces attracted the most celebrated figures of the day in Europe and beyond. Owning a Breguet timepiece became a prestigious symbol for the royal, scientific, military, financial, and diplomatic elites of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823) is recognized as one of the finest horologists of all time. The late Dr. George Daniels wrote: 'During the four hundred years that horology has been accepted as a separate art, only a dozen or so men have made a positive contribution to its progress. Included in this elite group is the illustrious name of Abraham-Louis Breguet, the arch-mechanicien in an age of mechanics. His contribution was as brilliant as it was original'.
Born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Breguet began his apprenticeship in 1762 with a watchmaker in Les Verrières. By the end of the year, he moved to Versailles, near the French court. After two years, he relocated to Paris, where he benefited from his relationships with renowned clockmakers Ferdinand Berthoud and Jean-Antoine Lépine before establishing his own business in 1775 at Quai de l'Horloge on Île de la Cité.
Among Breguet’s early innovations were the perpetuelle (self-winding) watch, an improved lever escapement with a ruby pallet, and a three-wheel clock. Emmanuel Breguet writes: 'Through these inventions and technical innovations, Breguet emerged as one of the most creative clockmakers of his generation'.
His clientele included many of the greatest names in Europe. Notable clients ranged from George III and the Prince of Wales in England to Napoleon Bonaparte, the King and Queen of Spain, the Kings of Prussia and Bavaria, and Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II. His best client, however, was Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, for whom Breguet created the first wristwatch.
In short, Breguet's unmatched technical prowess and timeless artistic vision established him as a legendary figure in horology, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to inspire watchmakers today.
Breguet’s first carriage clock, ‘Pendule à Almanach’ no. 178, was sold to Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798 and closely resembles the present clock. Breguet’s second ‘Pendule à Almanach’ no. 179, featuring a year calendar similar to the present clock, was sold to Ferdinand IV, King of Naples, in 1804. During the period between the production of these early ‘first series’ clocks and the present clock, only one other gilt bronze ‘Pendule à Almanach’ carriage clock was made:
- No. 2426, sold to Prince Don Antonio (Crown Prince of Spain) in Valencay on May 29, 1809, for 2,000 Francs.
- No. 2458, sold to Comte R. Zevausky on November 4, 1809, for 3,600 Francs – the present clock.
Breguet and the Carriage Clock
Breguet invented the small travelling timekeeper known as the carriage clock, which he referred to variously as 'pendule portative', 'pendule de carosse', 'pendule de voyage', and 'pendule portique'. Although no two clocks are identical, all feature quarter or half-quarter repeating and an alarm. In 1796, Breguet built his first carriage clock, no. 178, which was sold on 5 Floreal an 6 (April 24, 1798) for 1,500 Francs to Napoleon Bonaparte, just weeks before his Egyptian campaign. Described by Breguet as a 'Pendule Portative très petite à Almanach', this clock was later sold at Habsburg Antiquorum, Geneva, ‘The Art of Breguet,’ on April 14, 1991, for CHF 792,000. Today, it resides in the Swiss National Museum, Zurich.
Breguet’s second carriage clock, no. 179, was sold by Christie’s London on July 8, 2010, for £385,250. By the standards of the day, such travelling or ‘carriage’ clocks represented advanced technology, providing all necessary time-related information for wealthy travelers. In addition to the hours and minutes, the dial indicates the day, month, and year. When it is too dark to see the dial, a button on the top of the case can be pushed to make the clock strike the time to the last quarter hour. The clock also features an alarm, set by the number of hours of sleep desired rather than the time of waking.
Carriage clocks of a closely related design to Breguet’s first carriage clock no. 179 are few and none are as early as the present clock. Examples include:
- No. 2497, sold on June 9, 1810, to Prince Aldobrandini for 2,544 Francs.
- No. 2644, sold in 1811 to M. Giovanni Battista de Sommariva for 2,400 Francs.
- No. 2678, dated 1811 and sold to General Henry William Paget, Earl of Uxbridge, in 1813; now part of the Frick Collection, New York.
- No. 2607, sold in 1811 to Jeanneret for 2,880 Francs.
- No. 2898, sold in 1816 to M. Gerugross for 4,000 Francs; sold at Antiquorum Geneva on April 24, 2004, for SFR 553,500.
The Genius of Breguet
It is no exaggeration to say that the watches and clocks of Abraham-Louis Breguet were revolutionary, both in their technical and aesthetic superiority. His numerous inventions, including the tourbillon, equation of time applications, the first reliable self-winding watches, and the first carriage clocks, represented a quantum leap in fine watchmaking. His creations set the benchmark against which subsequent watchmakers have been measured.
In addition to his watchmaking genius, Breguet was an astute businessman and networker. The technical ingenuity and avant-garde appearance of his timepieces attracted the most celebrated figures of the day in Europe and beyond. Owning a Breguet timepiece became a prestigious symbol for the royal, scientific, military, financial, and diplomatic elites of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823) is recognized as one of the finest horologists of all time. The late Dr. George Daniels wrote: 'During the four hundred years that horology has been accepted as a separate art, only a dozen or so men have made a positive contribution to its progress. Included in this elite group is the illustrious name of Abraham-Louis Breguet, the arch-mechanicien in an age of mechanics. His contribution was as brilliant as it was original'.
Born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Breguet began his apprenticeship in 1762 with a watchmaker in Les Verrières. By the end of the year, he moved to Versailles, near the French court. After two years, he relocated to Paris, where he benefited from his relationships with renowned clockmakers Ferdinand Berthoud and Jean-Antoine Lépine before establishing his own business in 1775 at Quai de l'Horloge on Île de la Cité.
Among Breguet’s early innovations were the perpetuelle (self-winding) watch, an improved lever escapement with a ruby pallet, and a three-wheel clock. Emmanuel Breguet writes: 'Through these inventions and technical innovations, Breguet emerged as one of the most creative clockmakers of his generation'.
His clientele included many of the greatest names in Europe. Notable clients ranged from George III and the Prince of Wales in England to Napoleon Bonaparte, the King and Queen of Spain, the Kings of Prussia and Bavaria, and Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II. His best client, however, was Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, for whom Breguet created the first wristwatch.
In short, Breguet's unmatched technical prowess and timeless artistic vision established him as a legendary figure in horology, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to inspire watchmakers today.