Les Arts sous Influence : Napoléon

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 23. A diamond-set gold and enamel watch with skeletonized back, reputedlt presented to Napoleon Bonaparte when he passed out as an artillery officer in 1785, circa 1785 | Montre en or, diamants et email avec fond squelette, par réputation offerte à Napoléon Bonaparte à la fin de sa formation d'officier d'artillerie vers 1785.

Frères Melly à Paris

A diamond-set gold and enamel watch with skeletonized back, reputedlt presented to Napoleon Bonaparte when he passed out as an artillery officer in 1785, circa 1785 | Montre en or, diamants et email avec fond squelette, par réputation offerte à Napoléon Bonaparte à la fin de sa formation d'officier d'artillerie vers 1785

VAT reduced rate

Lot Closed

September 22, 01:27 PM GMT

Estimate

5,000 - 8,000 EUR

Lot Details

Description

Frères Melly à Paris

• Movement: gilded skeletonized verge movement with fusee chain, paste-set foliage decoration, three-arm balance,

• Dial: white enamel, Roman and Arabic numerals with paste-set dots, stylized paste-set hands, signed Frères Melly à Paris

• Case: gold with paste-set front and back bezels

• Signed: dial

•Accessories: silver presentation case and a file and information about Napoleon

• Mouvement: doré, squelette avec échappement à verge et chaine fusée, décoration de feuillage ornée de pierres blanches, balancier à trois bras

• Cadran: en émail blanc, indexes en chiffres arabes et romains avec points en pierres blanches, auguilles stylisée et ornées de pierres blanches, signé Frères Melly à Paris

• Boitier: en or avec lunette avant et arrières serties de pierres blanches

• Signature: cadran

• Accessoires: boite en argent et dossier avec informations relatives à Napoléon

Please note that the stones decorating the hands, dial, movement and case are paste/white stones, not diamonds Veuillez noter que les pierres présentes sur les aiguilles, le cadran, le mouvement et le boitier sont des pierre blanches/pierres d’imitation, et non des diamants.

According to family tradition, the present watch has had a most fascinating history, having been the property of the most distinguished members of Napoleon’s family, including himself, as well as some remarkable people later on.

Originally, this watch was presented to Napoleon in 1785 when he, at the age of 16, passed out as an Artillery Office at Ecole Militaire. When Napoleon passed away in 1821, the watch was bequeathed to his son the King of Rome. Nonetheless, he never received it. It was then passed to Prince Louis, future Emperor Napoleon III. In 1876, Empress Engénie offered it to the Prince Imperial when he passed out at Woolwhich. Three years later, he was killed in Zululand. The watch then came back to the Empress.

Now accompanied by its silver case, she presented the watch to Lieutenant Colonel Arthur John Bigge (1849 -1931), Royal Artillery K.C.B.C.M.G. Grand Cross of Dannebrog. Assistant Keeper of the Privy Pirse 9th August 1880. Arthur Bigge served in the Kaffir and Zulu war and was present at the engagement at Kambula where the Prince Imperial was killed. He was Aide-de-camp to Sir Evelyn Wood 1880. Attended the Empress Eugenie to Zululand. Groom in waiting 1st January 1880 to 8th May 1881. Equerry 1st April 1881. Private Secretary 9th May 1895 to Queen Victoria. Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales 1901-1910. Created Baron Stamfordham 1911. Later as Baron Stamfordham Private Secretary to King George V.

Having no heirs, Arthur Bigge left the watch to Major General Sir John Headlam (1864 -1946). Sir Headlam entered the army in 1882, Captain 1893, Major 1900, Lt Col. 1902, Colonel 1905, Major General 1915. South African war 1900-1901, 1st World War 1914-1918. Retired pay 1931. Colonel Commandant Royal Artillery 1928-1934. Author of "History of the Royal Artillery From The Indian Mutiny to the Great War".

The watch was eventually acquired from his granddaughter who inherited it.

The Melly family was a clockmaking dynasty for five generations.