NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, OWNED & GIFTED
POCKET WATCH
A beautiful silver case key-operated pocket watch that's been personally owned by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon I). The watch has a White enamel dial with Roman numerals. Second hand at six o'clock.
When open, it is engraved on the inside of the mechanism cover: "No. 4027. Henry Lepaute, Hr de l'Empereur et de la Ville. A Paris". And around the edge: "Cadeau de Napoléon Ier au Gal Tournemine. Son Gendre Gal Lahure la donna à Chles Hutly", meaning: "Gift from Napoleon I to General Tournemire. His son-in-law, General Lahure, gave it to Chles Hutly."
The pocket watch was made during the 1st Empire period, but was later serviced and engraved during the 2nd Empire period by Henry Lepaute. Henry Lepaute was a renowned watchmaker and inventor. His company expanded over time and gradually left watchmaking to focus on larger creations. Notably Lepaute's company made both the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty – two of the world's most recognizable landmarks.
The French general Baron Bernard Vacher Tournemire, who was gifted the pocket watch from Napoleon Bonaparte, was born in Aurillac on October 18, 1788. He had a remarkable and honorable military career; having entered the 4th Artillery Regiment as a simple gunner in 1804, he distinguished himself during the capture of English ships in the North Seas. In 1809, he transferred to the land artillery; then he fought in the Italian campaigns, was wounded crossing the Piave, then fought in Germany, at Lutzen, at Bautzen, where he was in the capacity of adjutant-major, and from then on there was not a rank that he did not acquire on the battlefield. Hit by a bullet in the battle of Montereau, in 1814, he was then put in command of a battery of the young guard. After the restoration, he entered the royal guard and became colonel in 1826. In 1830, he escorted King Charles X in this capacity to Cherbourg. In 1831, after an interval of inactivity, General Tournemine organized the 11th Artillery Regiment. In 1836, he was sent to Algeria, where he served under Generals Clausel and Valée and earned a triple mention in the army's order of the day. Field Marshal in 1837, he headed the Douai artillery school from then on. On December 7, 1848, Tournemine was appointed divisional general, but in 1852, he was placed in the reserve (2nd section) of the general staff. Baron Bernard Vacher Tournemire died in 1861.
Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most sought-after historical figures. Any items that he has owned are true treasures. A beautiful pocket watch like this is extraordinary, especially since he gifted it to a trusted and remarkable general.
Size: Approximately x in. / 55 mm in diameter.
Condition: Overall in fine vintage condition with signs of use, and cracks on the enamel dial.
Provenance: Originally owned by Napoleon Bonaparte, it was later given to Baron Bernard Vacher Tournemire, who gave it to his son-in-law, Oscar Lahure (1801-1862), who was married to Tournemire's daughter Émilie. Lahure later gifted it to Charles Hutly. The watch was later purchased by the royal family of Monaco. The pocket watch was a part of the Napoleon collection in Monaco for more than 100 years and was exhibited at the Napoleon Museum in Monaco, which was established in 1968 by Prince Ranier III. The collection was sold in 2014 by Prince Albert II to finance renovations of the Prince's Palace. Letter of authenticity from Alexander Bitar History.
