Abraham-Louis Breguet - Arthur Rubinstein
Abraham-Louis Breguet - Arthur Rubinstein
(*) An important and unique, one-handed, oval pocket watch with concentric date and thermometer, sold on February 26, 1822 to Count Nikita Petrovich Panin (1770–1837), modified in 1884 on behalf of Count Scherbatoff, sold to the famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982), who had the watch completely overhauled by Breguet in 1934 Movm. No. 1682 4761, Case No. 1682 / Tavernier No. 3868, Dimensions 61 x 84 mm, circa 1822, Weight 159 g, Origin Frankreich, Original certificate Case: 18 K gold, caseband in silver, oversized oval-shaped case by Tavernier (No. 3868), case design "quatre baguettes", guilloche pattern "à grains d'orge", push back with centred oval translucent green enamel medallion with engraved Cyrillic initial "P" under a count's crown. Dial: Oval, eccentric dial by Tavernier, signed "Breguet", two-tone silvered, guilloche pattern, off-centre hour chapter ring with radial Roman numerals and single blued steel Breguet hand, concentric date with Arabic numerals and single "souscription, lance effilée" hand, sector for the thermometer in degrees Réaumur below. Movm.: Oval brass movement, "Souscription" caliber no. 4977, keywind, central barrel, shock protection-"parachute", "overhanging" ruby cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance, flat blued balance spring with temperature compensation. Bimetallic thermometer mounted on the front plate under the dial, the hand movement controlled by a double rack and pinion. According to the Breguet certificate no. 4640 that comes with the watch, it is truly a unique piece among the work of Breguet. The watch has a very complex and remarkable history. Breguet sold it for 1,000 francs on February 26, 1822 as 'Simulacre de montre pour portrait' (mock watch to be used as a frame for a portrait) to Count Panin. On order of Prince Scherbatoff on January 15, 1884 Breguet fitted a silver guilloche dial and a small 'souscription' calibre no. 4977 into this locket from his store for 500 francs and gave it the new number 4761. He also added a thermometer. The watch eventually became the property of Arthur Rubinstein at 15 Rue Ravignon, Paris 18e, who took it to the Breguet workshop for overhauling on June 15, 1934. Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982) is widely regarded as one of the greatest classical pianists of the 20th century. He was born on January 28, 1887 in Lodz, part of the Russian Empire at the time. He was the youngest of seven children of a family without any musical talents. Against his father’s wishes the boy began playing the piano at the age of three. At the age of ten he was taken to Berlin by his mother; at the time Berlin was a hub of famous musicians and European piano culture. Joseph Joachim organised wealthy sponsors for the young Rubinstein and recommended the strict piano teacher Karl Heinrich Barth. Rubinstein completed a hard seven year training to perfect his talent. At the age of 17 he moved to Paris in 1904 to work on his career. Arthur Rubinstein’s personality and life were on par with his enormous talent. He was acquainted with Marcel Proust, the Rothschilds, Maurice Ravel and Paul Dukas and a friend of Hoffmann, Chaliapin, Saint-Saëns, Strawinsky, Pablo Casais and Picasso. Rubinstein’s interpretations of Chopin’s work in particular laid the foundation of his reputation. During his lifetime he gave circa 6,000 concerts, the last of them at the age of 88 in May 1976 at Wigmore Hall in London. His career came to an end when his eyesight began to fail. Rubinstein died in 1982 at the age of 95 in Geneva. Count Nikita Petrovich Panin (1770–1837), was a Russian diplomat, vice-chancellor, State Chancellor 6 October 1799 – 18 November 1800 (acting) and Foreign Minister of Russia. His uncle was Count Nikita Ivanovich Panin, an influential Russian statesman and political mentor to Catherine the Great for the first 18 years of her reign (1762-1780). Nikita P. Panin plotted the assassination of Paul I of Russia together with Count Peter Ludwig von der Pahlen and the Russo-Neapolitan Admiral José de Ribas. Ribas died before the assassination, which was actually carried out on 23 March 1801 by a band of dismissed officers headed by General Bennigsen, a Hanoverian in the Russian service, and General Yashvil, a Georgian. The assassination brought Alexander I of Russia to the throne. Case: very good. Dial: very good. Movm.: very good, capable of running, cleaning recommended.
Bid on this lot
Abraham-Louis Breguet - Arthur Rubinstein
(*) An important and unique, one-handed, oval pocket watch with concentric date and thermometer, sold on February 26, 1822 to Count Nikita Petrovich Panin (1770–1837), modified in 1884 on behalf of Count Scherbatoff, sold to the famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982), who had the watch completely overhauled by Breguet in 1934 Movm. No. 1682 4761, Case No. 1682 / Tavernier No. 3868, Dimensions 61 x 84 mm, circa 1822, Weight 159 g, Origin Frankreich, Original certificate Case: 18 K gold, caseband in silver, oversized oval-shaped case by Tavernier (No. 3868), case design "quatre baguettes", guilloche pattern "à grains d'orge", push back with centred oval translucent green enamel medallion with engraved Cyrillic initial "P" under a count's crown. Dial: Oval, eccentric dial by Tavernier, signed "Breguet", two-tone silvered, guilloche pattern, off-centre hour chapter ring with radial Roman numerals and single blued steel Breguet hand, concentric date with Arabic numerals and single "souscription, lance effilée" hand, sector for the thermometer in degrees Réaumur below. Movm.: Oval brass movement, "Souscription" caliber no. 4977, keywind, central barrel, shock protection-"parachute", "overhanging" ruby cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance, flat blued balance spring with temperature compensation. Bimetallic thermometer mounted on the front plate under the dial, the hand movement controlled by a double rack and pinion. According to the Breguet certificate no. 4640 that comes with the watch, it is truly a unique piece among the work of Breguet. The watch has a very complex and remarkable history. Breguet sold it for 1,000 francs on February 26, 1822 as 'Simulacre de montre pour portrait' (mock watch to be used as a frame for a portrait) to Count Panin. On order of Prince Scherbatoff on January 15, 1884 Breguet fitted a silver guilloche dial and a small 'souscription' calibre no. 4977 into this locket from his store for 500 francs and gave it the new number 4761. He also added a thermometer. The watch eventually became the property of Arthur Rubinstein at 15 Rue Ravignon, Paris 18e, who took it to the Breguet workshop for overhauling on June 15, 1934. Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982) is widely regarded as one of the greatest classical pianists of the 20th century. He was born on January 28, 1887 in Lodz, part of the Russian Empire at the time. He was the youngest of seven children of a family without any musical talents. Against his father’s wishes the boy began playing the piano at the age of three. At the age of ten he was taken to Berlin by his mother; at the time Berlin was a hub of famous musicians and European piano culture. Joseph Joachim organised wealthy sponsors for the young Rubinstein and recommended the strict piano teacher Karl Heinrich Barth. Rubinstein completed a hard seven year training to perfect his talent. At the age of 17 he moved to Paris in 1904 to work on his career. Arthur Rubinstein’s personality and life were on par with his enormous talent. He was acquainted with Marcel Proust, the Rothschilds, Maurice Ravel and Paul Dukas and a friend of Hoffmann, Chaliapin, Saint-Saëns, Strawinsky, Pablo Casais and Picasso. Rubinstein’s interpretations of Chopin’s work in particular laid the foundation of his reputation. During his lifetime he gave circa 6,000 concerts, the last of them at the age of 88 in May 1976 at Wigmore Hall in London. His career came to an end when his eyesight began to fail. Rubinstein died in 1982 at the age of 95 in Geneva. Count Nikita Petrovich Panin (1770–1837), was a Russian diplomat, vice-chancellor, State Chancellor 6 October 1799 – 18 November 1800 (acting) and Foreign Minister of Russia. His uncle was Count Nikita Ivanovich Panin, an influential Russian statesman and political mentor to Catherine the Great for the first 18 years of her reign (1762-1780). Nikita P. Panin plotted the assassination of Paul I of Russia together with Count Peter Ludwig von der Pahlen and the Russo-Neapolitan Admiral José de Ribas. Ribas died before the assassination, which was actually carried out on 23 March 1801 by a band of dismissed officers headed by General Bennigsen, a Hanoverian in the Russian service, and General Yashvil, a Georgian. The assassination brought Alexander I of Russia to the throne. Case: very good. Dial: very good. Movm.: very good, capable of running, cleaning recommended.
