The Collection of a Connoisseur 掌上的百年風華: 鐘錶及裝飾藝術收藏
The Collection of a Connoisseur 掌上的百年風華: 鐘錶及裝飾藝術收藏
BLONNAY | A GOLD AND ENAMEL VERGE WATCH WITH PRESENTATION PLAQUE TO THE MOVEMENT ENGRAVED 'À LA BARONNE D'ARBERG FIDÈLE LECTRICE DE S M L'IMPÉRATRICE JOSEPHINE, NOTRE MÈRE REGRETTÉE QUI RENDIT SON AME A DIEU LE 29 MAI, JOUR DE PENTECÔTE 1814 LA MALMAISON L'AN 1814, HORTENSE-EUGENE' CIRCA 1814
Auction Closed
July 14, 12:35 PM GMT
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
BLONNAY
A GOLD AND ENAMEL VERGE WATCH WITH PRESENTATION PLAQUE TO THE MOVEMENT ENGRAVED 'À LA BARONNE D'ARBERG FIDÈLE LECTRICE DE S M L'IMPÉRATRICE JOSEPHINE, NOTRE MÈRE REGRETTÉE QUI RENDIT SON AME A DIEU LE 29 MAI, JOUR DE PENTECÔTE 1814 LA MALMAISON L'AN 1814, HORTENSE-EUGENE'
CIRCA 1814
gilded full plate movement, verge escapement, three-arm balance, pierced and engraved balance bridge, silver regulation plate, fusee and chain, engraved inscription to applied polished plaque, signed Blonnay, white enamel dial, Arabic numerals, outer minute ring with Arabic quarter hours, signed Blonnay, gold case, oval polychrome enamel scene to the back depicting Helen of Troy bidding farewell to Prince Paris as he goes to fight Menelaus, outer gilt metal glazed cover, accompanied by an associated gold and enamel chatelaine with four pendants terminating in a key, a blank seal and two decorative tassels
diameter 56mm
The engraved presentation inscription to the cuvette translates as: "The Baroness D'Arberg faithful reader to her majesty Empress Joséphine, our missed mother who handed her soul back to God on May 29, 1814, day of Pentecost la Malmaison 1814, Hortense - Eugene." The inscription suggests that the watch may have been given as a present by Josephine's two children Eugène (1781-1824) and Hortense (1783-1837) to the Baroness d'Arberg, a confidant and friend of the Empress. The Château de Malmaison was the residence of the Empress Joséphine. Josephine's two children were from her first marriage to Alexandre de Beauharnais who was executed during the Reign of Terror in 1794. Eugène was an aide de camp to Napoleon Bonaparte, later becoming Viceroy of Italy whilst Hortense became the Queen consort of Holland through her marriage to Napoleon's younger brother, Louis Bonaparte, the King of Holland.
Blonnay is listed by Brian Loomes in Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World, 21st Century Edition, as active in Paris, c.1800.