19,200 CHF
For Pope Pius IX from Swiss Catholics Patek Philippe & Co. , Fabricants d’Horlogerie à Genève, movement No. 3039, case No. 52233. Made in 1876, sold on May 14th, 1877 and presented by Swiss Catholics to Pope Pius IX in 1877. Fine and extremely rare, historically important, silver, keyless pocket watch. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives. Four-body, “bassine et filets”, polished, the back cover engraved with the Papal arms beneath the Papal crown. Hinged silver cuvette engraved “Pio IX. P.P. Helveti Catholici . MDCCCLXXVII”. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track. Blued steel spade hands. 40 mm, frosted gilt, bar caliber, 8 jewels, wolf’s tooth winding, cylinder escapement, plain threearm gold balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Case numbered, cuvette signed and numbered. Diam. 47 mm. Notes Provenance: The watch was presented to Pope Pius IX by the Swiss branch of the Catholic organisation Piusverein in 1877. Subsequently: Pope Leo XIII gave the watch to Cardinal Francesco Salesio della Volpe, who was “Camerlengo" of the Holy Roman Church. Cardinal Francesco Salesio della Volpe gave the watch to his cousin, Count Giuseppe Ginnasi Poggiolini di Imola. Count Giuseppe Ginnasi Poggiolini di Imola gave the watch to his daughter, Countess Nadia Ginnasi Poggiolini, the mother of the present owner. The initials "PP" following the Pope's name stand for the words Pastor Pastorum (Shepherd of Shepherds). The Piusverein, or
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2009-05-10
