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拍品專文
Sold via Leroy, Breguet’s agent in Constantinople, Breguet No. 3814 is described in the company’s archives as: ‘Répetition de minute, boite or et emaillée rouge avec scène de lac peinte par Seguin, cadran email turc avec signature secrété et turc, échappemant à cylindre de rubis, suspension élastique, trous en rubis, Nouveau calibre’.
Minute repeating watches by Breguet are exceedingly rare and prestigious, the present watch is the perfect example of one of his extraordinary minute repeating Turkish market watches. Of wonderful colour and quality, the enamel case was, according to Breguet’s archives, painted by the Artist Thomas Seguin. Seguin was established in Paris in 1775 and exhibited several frames of enamels at the Salon in 1806.
This lavishly decorated gold case demonstrates the superb craftsmanship of early 19th century watchmaking and enamelling, an art in which Breguet unquestionably excelled. In fact, Abraham-Louis Breguet's most spectacular timepieces were those destined for the Ottoman Empire, captivating by their opulently enamelled and brightly coloured decoration, ostentatiously contrasting with the neo-classical, often almost understated design of his traditional watches.
Contrary to common belief, Breguet's most expensive watch ever sold was not the ultra-complicated "Marie-Antoinette" but rather his "Sympathique" clock no. 758 covered in precious stones, worth 35,000 francs, chosen by Napoleon as a gift to mark the instatement of Sultan Mahmud II - illustrating the enormous significance of the Turkish market for Breguet. The Sultan was so delighted by the present that he assigned Breguet's representative Leroy with the maintenance of all the timepieces in his palace.
Breguet’s first connection with Turkey was due to Prince Talleyrand who introduced him to Esseid Ali Effendi, Ottoman ambassador to Paris. Ali Effendi had arrived in Paris in 1797 and with Talleyrand’s introductions he quickly became part of Paris high society. In 1798 he became a client of Breguet and soon became one of his best customers. Breguet realized the business potential of the Ottoman market and Ali Effendi, along with the leading Istanbul watch dealer Stephanaki – to whom the present watch was sold, agreed to help Breguet gain favour with wealthy customers there. To exploit the Turkish market, Breguet needed to manufacture watches specially designed to very specific criteria supplied by Ali Effendi. Breguet complied and for the first time abandoned the neo-classical style for which he is most associated. This venture proved a success and in 1805 Ali Effendi wrote to Breguet “Your reputation in Constantinople could not be higher. All the great princes admire your work”. Watch and clock gift exchange between the Arab World and the West began in 799AD when Caliph Harun al-Rashid presented the first Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne, with a complicated automaton water clock. 750 years later, from 1548, the clock and watch gifts were flowing in the opposite direction - from Holy Roman Emperors to Ottoman's Sultans. The Ottomans quickly developed their own taste for watches which, on the highest level, were required to be decorated with enamels. This market first belonged to the British; George Prior, Markham Markwick, both of London, produced thousands, if not tens of thousands, watches destined for Constantinople. This lasted until Breguet took the Ottoman market by storm for himself. Breguet's timepieces became the most prized in the Ottoman Court. Consequently, they also became the favourite presents for high Turkish officials including the Sultan.
Emmanuel Breguet in his definitive work on the subject, 'Breguet, Watchmakers since 1775', writes "Breguet's wares were either sold or presented as gifts to the most important dignitaries of the Ottoman Empire" (p. 230). King of Spain, Joseph I presented a Breguet watch there in 1808, Napoleon in 1812, as well as Prince Ferdinand, the future King Ferdinand VII, and to Prince Charles, the future Charles X of France, both also in 1812, and Prince Friedrich-Wilhelm-Ludwig of Prussia in 1814.
Minute repeating watches by Breguet are exceedingly rare and prestigious, the present watch is the perfect example of one of his extraordinary minute repeating Turkish market watches. Of wonderful colour and quality, the enamel case was, according to Breguet’s archives, painted by the Artist Thomas Seguin. Seguin was established in Paris in 1775 and exhibited several frames of enamels at the Salon in 1806.
This lavishly decorated gold case demonstrates the superb craftsmanship of early 19th century watchmaking and enamelling, an art in which Breguet unquestionably excelled. In fact, Abraham-Louis Breguet's most spectacular timepieces were those destined for the Ottoman Empire, captivating by their opulently enamelled and brightly coloured decoration, ostentatiously contrasting with the neo-classical, often almost understated design of his traditional watches.
Contrary to common belief, Breguet's most expensive watch ever sold was not the ultra-complicated "Marie-Antoinette" but rather his "Sympathique" clock no. 758 covered in precious stones, worth 35,000 francs, chosen by Napoleon as a gift to mark the instatement of Sultan Mahmud II - illustrating the enormous significance of the Turkish market for Breguet. The Sultan was so delighted by the present that he assigned Breguet's representative Leroy with the maintenance of all the timepieces in his palace.
Breguet’s first connection with Turkey was due to Prince Talleyrand who introduced him to Esseid Ali Effendi, Ottoman ambassador to Paris. Ali Effendi had arrived in Paris in 1797 and with Talleyrand’s introductions he quickly became part of Paris high society. In 1798 he became a client of Breguet and soon became one of his best customers. Breguet realized the business potential of the Ottoman market and Ali Effendi, along with the leading Istanbul watch dealer Stephanaki – to whom the present watch was sold, agreed to help Breguet gain favour with wealthy customers there. To exploit the Turkish market, Breguet needed to manufacture watches specially designed to very specific criteria supplied by Ali Effendi. Breguet complied and for the first time abandoned the neo-classical style for which he is most associated. This venture proved a success and in 1805 Ali Effendi wrote to Breguet “Your reputation in Constantinople could not be higher. All the great princes admire your work”. Watch and clock gift exchange between the Arab World and the West began in 799AD when Caliph Harun al-Rashid presented the first Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne, with a complicated automaton water clock. 750 years later, from 1548, the clock and watch gifts were flowing in the opposite direction - from Holy Roman Emperors to Ottoman's Sultans. The Ottomans quickly developed their own taste for watches which, on the highest level, were required to be decorated with enamels. This market first belonged to the British; George Prior, Markham Markwick, both of London, produced thousands, if not tens of thousands, watches destined for Constantinople. This lasted until Breguet took the Ottoman market by storm for himself. Breguet's timepieces became the most prized in the Ottoman Court. Consequently, they also became the favourite presents for high Turkish officials including the Sultan.
Emmanuel Breguet in his definitive work on the subject, 'Breguet, Watchmakers since 1775', writes "Breguet's wares were either sold or presented as gifts to the most important dignitaries of the Ottoman Empire" (p. 230). King of Spain, Joseph I presented a Breguet watch there in 1808, Napoleon in 1812, as well as Prince Ferdinand, the future King Ferdinand VII, and to Prince Charles, the future Charles X of France, both also in 1812, and Prince Friedrich-Wilhelm-Ludwig of Prussia in 1814.