Breguet

The Bulletin de la Société d'Encouragement pour l'Industrie Nationale [SEIN] 1820. 19e année lists Breguet (please refer to Figure 1) with a symbol indicating Breguet was now a member (chevalier) of the Legion-d' Honneur; the honor bestowed upon Breguet by Louis XVIII on September 8, 1819...oddly one of the only pictures of Breguet wearing the Legion-d' Honneur chevalier red-ribbon is on an advertising card for a chocolate company (see enclosed picture following Figure 1). Note an "O" preceding the aforementioned symbol indicates the person was an Officer of the Legion-d' Honneur, example: Joseph Marie, baron de Gérando (see 4th person listed in Figure 1); the reader will remember Joseph Marie, baron de Gérando as the author of the SEIN Breguet tribute mentioned in the original post.

The same SEIN bulletin (Bulletin de la Société d'Encouragement pour l'Industrie Nationale 1820) recaps the 1819 French Exposition regarding recognition of Breguet (please refer to Figure 2)...

53°. A M. Bréguet, de Paris, pour divers objets d’horlogerie nouveaux et perfectionnés, dont plusieurs destinés à l’usage civil; chacune de ces pièces est remarquable par des combinaisons ingénieuses et un travail parfait; les montres donnent l’heure avec une grande exactitude. M. Bréguet a obtenu une médaille d’or aux précédentes expositions; il s’est rais hors de concours comme membre du Jury. Le Roi lui a accordé la décoration de la Légion-d’Honneur. 54°. Au même, pour des horloges marines et des garde-temps, d’une exactitude qui égale celle des instrumens les plus parfaits connus, et qui est telle que des chronomètres de poche n’ont varié en seize mois que d’une seconde à une seconde et demie, quoique transportés en différens lieux. M. Bréguet a été jugé digne de la médaille d’or pour son horlogerie astronomique, aux expositions des années VI, X et 1806.

Translation

53°. To Mr. Bréguet, of Paris, for various new and improved clockwork objects, several of which are intended for civil use; each of these pieces is remarkable for its ingenious combinations and perfect workmanship; the watches tell the time with great accuracy. Mr. Bréguet won a gold medal at previous exhibitions; he stood out as a member of the Jury. The King awarded him the decoration of the Legion of Honor. 54°. To the same, for marine clocks and timepieces, of an accuracy which equals that of the most perfect instruments known, and which is such that pocket chronometers have varied in sixteen months by only one second to one and a half seconds, although transported to different places. Mr. Bréguet was judged worthy of the gold medal for his astronomical clockwork, at the exhibitions of the years VI, X and 1806.

The reader will notice on the same page is the section on Pierre-Philippe Thomire...

48°. A MM. Thomire et compagnie, de Paris, pour des ouvrages en bronze doré et ciselé qui se distinguent par leur grandeur, leur richesse, le goût et la perfection du travail, tels qu’un vase de grande dimension, une table et un candélabre en malachite, ornés de bronze, un grand candélabre , des girandoles , plusieurs pendules , et un surtout de la plus grande richesse. MM. Thomire furent jugés dignes de la médaille d’or à l’exposition de 1806.

Translation:

48°. A MM. Thomire and company, of Paris, for works in gilded and chased bronze which are distinguished by their grandeur, their richness, the taste and the perfection of the work, such as a large vase, a table and a candelabra in malachite, decorated with bronze, a large candelabra, girandoles, several clocks, and a very rich centerpiece. MM. Thomire were judged worthy of the gold medal at the 1806 exhibition.

Note: from the Description Des Expositions Des Produits 1819, Tome Second, Paris, 1924 the reader can view sketches of some of Thomire's craft exhibited at the 1819 exposition (please refer to Figure 3).

  login to reply