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拍品專文
Minute repeating watches are most uncommon at this period. In comparison the watches produced by Breguet with Grande and Petite Sonnerie striking combined with a separate repeating train were often with a quarter repeating device and were usually destined for the Islamic market. However, the quality of this movement is equal to most of the Breguet examples destined for the Near and the Middle East, which were also fitted with a ruby cylinder escapement. Workmanship throughout is exceptional, not only the highly finished striking mechanism visible on the back plate, but also the minute repeating work under the dial.
This type of timepiece is completely atypical for the production of the workshops of Louis Berthoud, Henri Motel and Berthoud Frères and must be the result of a special order. As for Breguet, the ébauche of this watch was probably from Geneva, made in the workshops of Descombaz.
Berthoud Frères
Pierre Louis Berthoud (1754-1813), famous French clock-chronometer maker and Claire Thérèse Bezout (deceased in 1832), were married in 1784 and had two children: Jean Louis Simon Henri (commonly called Louis; 1793-1880) and Charles Auguste (1798-1876).
Louis Simon Henri and Charles Auguste were accepted very early at the Arts and Trades School in Compiègne, which moved to Châlons-sur-Marne in 1806. Hard working students, the two joined their father in 1812, after studies. The latter had been involved for many years in teaching students the art of watch making on behalf of the State. That particular year, the Ministry of Industries placed Louis Berthoud in charge with two more students besides his sons: Jean-Aimé Jacob (1793-1871) and Jacques Fesche.
Their father died in 1813. As their education was far from being over, their mother decided to continue the Argenteuil workshop and appeal to Henri Motel (1786-1859), also an Elève du Gouvernement, trained by Louis Berthoud since 1806. Between 1813 and 1817 Henri Motel continued the work of his teacher, operating under the name Veuve Berthoud.
After Motel's departure, the family workshop continued to operate under the name Berthoud Frères; the two brothers divided the responsibilities among themselves. The eldest, Louis Simon Henri, managed the business office on rue Richelieu, in Paris. The younger brother, Charles Auguste, managed the workshop in Argenteuil. In 1819, their chronometers made an impression at the French Industry Products Exhibition in Paris.
The same year, Louis Simon Henri married Thérèse Joly (1798-1881). In 1822, Auguste married the younger sister of the latter, Henriette Pauline Joly (1801-1879). They are the daughters of Jean-Louis Joly (1752?-1821), case fitter and of Louise Perette Maliverne, married in 1768.
At the 1823 and 1827 exhibitions the Jury awarded them the silver medal. In 1831, the two brothers went on their own separate ways. Louis Simon Henri, who called himself Louis, just like his father, gave up watch making to concentrate exclusively to commerce.
Charles Auguste continued to manufacture chronometers. His efforts were rewarded with a gold medal at the 1834 exhibition.
In 1839, following the resignation due to health reasons of Louis Frédéric Perrelet (1781-1854), the state made him in charge of the management of a precision watch making school. Onésime Dumas (1824-1889), Henri Motel's nephew, was among the four students.
At the 1844 exhibition the Jury awarded him again the gold medal, with a laudatory mention of his students. On 20 May 1846, the minister testified in a letter of his appreciation for the care that he put in the students' training.
At the 1849 exhibition, once again the Jury awarded him the gold medal. He was awarded Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur.
In 1870, during the siege of Paris, many of the creations he was working on were destroyed, as well as instruments and tools from his father's workshop.
Louis Simon Henri Berthoud had a son, Auguste Louis (1828-1910), who followed the family tradition of marine chronometry.
Bibliography
La longitude en mer à l'heure de Louis Berthoud et Henri Motel by Jean-Claude Sabrier, pp. 307-312.
This type of timepiece is completely atypical for the production of the workshops of Louis Berthoud, Henri Motel and Berthoud Frères and must be the result of a special order. As for Breguet, the ébauche of this watch was probably from Geneva, made in the workshops of Descombaz.
Berthoud Frères
Pierre Louis Berthoud (1754-1813), famous French clock-chronometer maker and Claire Thérèse Bezout (deceased in 1832), were married in 1784 and had two children: Jean Louis Simon Henri (commonly called Louis; 1793-1880) and Charles Auguste (1798-1876).
Louis Simon Henri and Charles Auguste were accepted very early at the Arts and Trades School in Compiègne, which moved to Châlons-sur-Marne in 1806. Hard working students, the two joined their father in 1812, after studies. The latter had been involved for many years in teaching students the art of watch making on behalf of the State. That particular year, the Ministry of Industries placed Louis Berthoud in charge with two more students besides his sons: Jean-Aimé Jacob (1793-1871) and Jacques Fesche.
Their father died in 1813. As their education was far from being over, their mother decided to continue the Argenteuil workshop and appeal to Henri Motel (1786-1859), also an Elève du Gouvernement, trained by Louis Berthoud since 1806. Between 1813 and 1817 Henri Motel continued the work of his teacher, operating under the name Veuve Berthoud.
After Motel's departure, the family workshop continued to operate under the name Berthoud Frères; the two brothers divided the responsibilities among themselves. The eldest, Louis Simon Henri, managed the business office on rue Richelieu, in Paris. The younger brother, Charles Auguste, managed the workshop in Argenteuil. In 1819, their chronometers made an impression at the French Industry Products Exhibition in Paris.
The same year, Louis Simon Henri married Thérèse Joly (1798-1881). In 1822, Auguste married the younger sister of the latter, Henriette Pauline Joly (1801-1879). They are the daughters of Jean-Louis Joly (1752?-1821), case fitter and of Louise Perette Maliverne, married in 1768.
At the 1823 and 1827 exhibitions the Jury awarded them the silver medal. In 1831, the two brothers went on their own separate ways. Louis Simon Henri, who called himself Louis, just like his father, gave up watch making to concentrate exclusively to commerce.
Charles Auguste continued to manufacture chronometers. His efforts were rewarded with a gold medal at the 1834 exhibition.
In 1839, following the resignation due to health reasons of Louis Frédéric Perrelet (1781-1854), the state made him in charge of the management of a precision watch making school. Onésime Dumas (1824-1889), Henri Motel's nephew, was among the four students.
At the 1844 exhibition the Jury awarded him again the gold medal, with a laudatory mention of his students. On 20 May 1846, the minister testified in a letter of his appreciation for the care that he put in the students' training.
At the 1849 exhibition, once again the Jury awarded him the gold medal. He was awarded Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur.
In 1870, during the siege of Paris, many of the creations he was working on were destroyed, as well as instruments and tools from his father's workshop.
Louis Simon Henri Berthoud had a son, Auguste Louis (1828-1910), who followed the family tradition of marine chronometry.
Bibliography
La longitude en mer à l'heure de Louis Berthoud et Henri Motel by Jean-Claude Sabrier, pp. 307-312.