Ratskunk unearths a fascinating piece of horological history, shedding light on the 1923 Breguet exhibition at Musée Galliera. His meticulous research into a rare black and white film and a contemporary article from the Revue française politique et littéraire offers a unique glimpse into a pivotal moment for Breguet scholarship and collecting. This deep dive not only highlights the historical significance of the event but also captures the profound emotional connection collectors have with their timepieces, as exemplified by Sir David Salomons' reaction to seeing his prized Marie Antoinette watch disassembled on screen.
Please let me preface by giving credit to Raxevis Arcofin who shared both the film and the Revue française politique et littéraire article with me; merci beaucoup.
Regarding the film...
The black and white film L'œuvre d'Abraham Louis Breguet, le célèbre horloger du XVIIIe siècle of the 1923 Musée Galliera Breguet exhibition was screened at the grand amphitheater of the Sorbonne on October 27th, 1923. I have created sundry still-shots from the film and adjusted the images a trifle to make viewing the pictures a little easier. The film albeit short and sans sound is a wonderful peek at maybe the most important historical Breguet event of the 20th century.
The film: 35 mm nitrate ; noir/blanc et teinté ; muet, intertitres (français) ; 368 m, 15'40" à 20 i./s. L'oeuvre d'Abraham Louis Bréguet, le célèbre horloger du XVIIIe siècle fut réalisé par une société française, SIDF, à l’occasion de l’exposition du centenaire d’Abraham-Louis Breguet (Neuchâtel, 1747 - Paris, 1823), présentée à Paris au Palais Galliéra (25 octobre - 25 novembre 1923).
Revue française politique et littéraire
As Breguet fans know, the 1923 Bregeut Paris expo featured more than 12 score Breguet watches (and clocks) of which five score belonged to Sir David Salomons. The January 20, 1924 Revue française politique et littéraire shares a tidbit regarding Sir David Salomons and Breguet No. 160 that relates to the 1923 film; a Google translation of the article is enclosed and follows...
Marie Antoinette's Watch Some time ago, the centenary of Bréguet, the famous Swiss watchmaker, was celebrated with an exhibition at the Galhéra Museum of a number of his masterpieces. Most of them are the property of Sir David Salomons, a rich and noble English collector, who is very proud to be able to display Marie Antoinette's watch in his display cases.
Now, this watch, which is considered a unique timepiece in the world, was made entirely by Bréguet, and it cost him ten years of patience and work. When Sir David Salomons was asked to part with the treasures of his collection for the duration of the exhibition, he willingly agreed, but on the condition that he would not leave them. Anyone who has collected anything in his life, even postage stamps, will understand this feeling. No one was therefore surprised by the condition placed on his loan by the honorable Sir David Salomons, and to facilitate his travel, he was taken on board a plane, with his watches.
As it was desired to keep a lasting souvenir of this exhibition, Sir David Salomons was asked for permission to take a cinematographic view of the objects that belonged to him. Without asking for more details, Sir Salomons accepted. Skilled specialists therefore seized Marie-Antoinette's watch one day to dismantle it in front of the camera's lens.
The day before the closing of the exhibition, it was decided to show the film that was to perpetuate its memory. The audience was selected, and naturally, Sir David Salomons had been invited. He took great pleasure in the performance, until the moment when they arrived at the dismantling of Marie-Antoinette's watch.
This was then a painful surprise for Sir Salomons. As he watched on the screen as hands unscrewed the marvelous dial, touched the delicate wheels, handled the spring and escapement, a mortal anguish gripped the noble Englishman. He almost fainted; it seemed to him that he was watching a surgical operation, attempted on his own child.
"But they're going to break it," he moaned. And he only began to breathe freely again once he had seen the watch wound up, piece by piece, with a pious care that still made him shudder. When the lamps were turned back on, the presentation over, Sir David Salomons was still pale...
