96th Auction
2017/11/18
Lot 281
Louis Berthoud à Paris, 2025 mm, circa 1800
An important precision regulator of museum quality with brass/steel gridiron pendulum - 25 days power reserve
Case: mahogany. Dial: enamel. Movm.: rectangular-shaped brass movement, Graham escapement, heavy brass gimbals for knife edge suspension of the pendulum, compensation gridiron pendulum with five steel and four brass rods, brass pendulum bob, fine adjustment system with a silk-suspended weight and regulation screw.
With eight exceptions, the very few regulators created by Louis Berthoud are unnumbered - just as this large long case clock in a beautiful, classy mahogany case. The clock is illustrated on page 170 of "La Longitude en Mer à l'Heure de Louis Berthoud et Henri Motel" by Jean-Claude Sabrier.
Pierre Louis Berthoud is usually known as Louis Berthoud and was born in 1754 in Plancemont near Couvet in the region of Neuchâtel as the son of Pierre Berthoud. His brothers were Jean Henri and Isaac. Pierre Louis began his apprenticeship with his father at the age of 12. His uncle Ferdinand soon discovered the boy’s outstanding talent and brought him to Paris to expand his training. Afterwards the young Berthoud returned to Couvet because even with his uncle’s support he was not able to find a good position. After the suicide of Jean Henri (who had worked in his uncle’s workshop), Ferdinand brought Louis back to Paris in 1784 and put him in charge of the workshop. When he took the position Louis insisted that the books were kept with the greatest diligence. These books are today held by the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers in Paris. Pierre Louis Berthoud took over his uncle’s business after Ferdinand died.
He created the famous chronometer no. 9 with a design that was an absolute novelty at the time. This watch is without doubt one of the most important timekeepers in the history of French watchmaking and represents the culmination of Berthoud’s work. Pierre Louis Berthoud produced about 150 chronometers; he worked for the observatory and the navy, and was a member of the "Bureau des Longitudes". After his death Breguet took over the position of "Horloger de la Marine".
Pierre Louis Berthoud died unexpectedly on September 17, 1813 in Argenteuil. His widow Claire Thérèse Berthoud asked Motel to run the business because her sons Henri and Auguste were still too young to take it over; Motel was also their instructor. Motel trained the young Berthoud brothers until 1817 and managed the business until Henri and Auguste were ready to take over. Montel also trained Jean-Aimé Jacob und Jacques Fesche until 1816.
Source: https://watch-wiki.org/index.php?title=Louis_Berthoud, as of 10/04/2015.
An important precision regulator of museum quality with brass/steel gridiron pendulum - 25 days power reserve
Case: mahogany. Dial: enamel. Movm.: rectangular-shaped brass movement, Graham escapement, heavy brass gimbals for knife edge suspension of the pendulum, compensation gridiron pendulum with five steel and four brass rods, brass pendulum bob, fine adjustment system with a silk-suspended weight and regulation screw.
With eight exceptions, the very few regulators created by Louis Berthoud are unnumbered - just as this large long case clock in a beautiful, classy mahogany case. The clock is illustrated on page 170 of "La Longitude en Mer à l'Heure de Louis Berthoud et Henri Motel" by Jean-Claude Sabrier.
Pierre Louis Berthoud is usually known as Louis Berthoud and was born in 1754 in Plancemont near Couvet in the region of Neuchâtel as the son of Pierre Berthoud. His brothers were Jean Henri and Isaac. Pierre Louis began his apprenticeship with his father at the age of 12. His uncle Ferdinand soon discovered the boy’s outstanding talent and brought him to Paris to expand his training. Afterwards the young Berthoud returned to Couvet because even with his uncle’s support he was not able to find a good position. After the suicide of Jean Henri (who had worked in his uncle’s workshop), Ferdinand brought Louis back to Paris in 1784 and put him in charge of the workshop. When he took the position Louis insisted that the books were kept with the greatest diligence. These books are today held by the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers in Paris. Pierre Louis Berthoud took over his uncle’s business after Ferdinand died.
He created the famous chronometer no. 9 with a design that was an absolute novelty at the time. This watch is without doubt one of the most important timekeepers in the history of French watchmaking and represents the culmination of Berthoud’s work. Pierre Louis Berthoud produced about 150 chronometers; he worked for the observatory and the navy, and was a member of the "Bureau des Longitudes". After his death Breguet took over the position of "Horloger de la Marine".
Pierre Louis Berthoud died unexpectedly on September 17, 1813 in Argenteuil. His widow Claire Thérèse Berthoud asked Motel to run the business because her sons Henri and Auguste were still too young to take it over; Motel was also their instructor. Motel trained the young Berthoud brothers until 1817 and managed the business until Henri and Auguste were ready to take over. Montel also trained Jean-Aimé Jacob und Jacques Fesche until 1816.
Source: https://watch-wiki.org/index.php?title=Louis_Berthoud, as of 10/04/2015.
estimated
30.000—45.000 €
Price realized
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