Antique Breguet Clock

Price Type: auction
Sold Date: 10/19/2002
Pre-Sale Estimate: (subscribers only)
Sold For: (subscribers only)

Catalog Description:

Pendule Pyramidale and Muses; gilt bronze 8 day-going double-barrel precision mantel regulator; Breguet; bronzes by Pierre-Philippe Thomire and Nicolas DelaFontaine dit Le Jeune, begun in 1805, sold on March 10, 1827 Pendule Pyramidale and Muses; Breguet, Pendule Pyramidale, No. 449, bronzes by Pierre-Philippe Thomire and Nicolas DelaFontaine dit Le Jeune, begun in 1805, sold to Monsieur Follope on March 10, 1827 for 3000 Francs. Exceptionally fine and rare gilt bronze 8 day-going double-barrel precision mantel regulator with overhanging pendulum and patented constant force chronometer escapement, dead seconds and hour and half-hour striking. C. Pyramid-shaped on rectangular base, the frame of darkened bronze, side panels decorated with applied gilt bronze ornaments depicting Urania, the Muse of Astronomy, Calliope, the Muse of Philosophy, and Clio, the Muse of History, front finished at the top with a Medusa's head on a sliding cylindrical fixture covering the pendulum suspension, matte and gilt frame, glazed front and back with beveled glass, gilt base with typical Empire pattern, turtle feet, the whole standing on Portor marble base with adjustable gilt bun feet. Platform escapement covered with gilt oval plate with bezel finished with beaded pattern, the plate is fixed with silvered pendulum amplitude plate and leveling pin and with sliding security device when traveling. D. White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute track. Blued steel Breguet hands. Winding apertures for the going train concealed under the bezel, which is flanked by Prudence, one of the four Cardinal Virtues, and the allegory of the Genius of Fame, with hinged foot revealing the striking winding aperture. Small silvered dial set on the platform escapement for the seconds. M. Rectangular, 24 x 11 cm., heavy brass plates, two large going barrels with stop-work for the going train, large platform with unusual Breguet constant force escapement with very interesting security device locking the train when the platform is taken out, the impulse is delivered via pivoted impulse pin fitted with a small gold adjustable weight, the gold sapphire-jeweled fly wheel pushes the locking detent up which in turn brings the impulse pin up. Rack striking train set outside the back plate, striking on a bell, special safety mechanism to allow the hands to be turned backwards. Brass-iron gridiron pendulum with heavy brass bob, sapphire impulse pin mounted on a special bracket for depth adjustment, gravity unlocking lever, knife-edge suspension, additional safety device preventing the pendulum from dropping too close into the escapement, preventing coincidental damage to the escapement when moving the clock, micrometric adjusting knob. Signed on the dial, the case punched twice with the serial number (between the pedestal and the pyramid, and the other at the top of the pyramid below the suspension sliding cover). Dim. 575 x 345 x 215 mm.

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