There are only two watches by Balthasar Martineau: this one and another one that is in Versailles.
There are only two watches by Balthasar Martineau: this one and another one that is in Versailles.
It is a historical work of “priceless value”, which was eventually “completely destroyed” by the demonstrators who invaded the Planalto Palace. The hands of a 17th-century table clock belonging to the Portuguese king, D. João VI, have been torn off and brought to Brazil in 1807 when the monarch moved the court to Brazil after the French invasions.
This grandfather clock was presented to King João VI. at the court of the French Sun King, absolutist D. Louis XIV. This piece was designed by André-Charles Boulle, who idealized much of the furniture for the French monarch, and made by watchmaker Balthasar Martineau.
Displayed on the third floor of the Planalto Palace, in Lula da Silva’s office, demonstrators damaged it during the invasion, removing arrows and numbers. Rogerio Carvalho, director of curation of the presidential palaces, expressed regret at what had happened and indicated that the restoration would be “very difficult.”
According to the message of the President of Brazil, Balthazar Martinot produces only two models of watches. “Another exhibit is in the Palace of Versailles, but it is half the size of what was completely destroyed by the invaders of the Plateau. The cost of this work is considered non-standard.”, the document says.
The grandfather clock was found on a federal government estate in 2012 and later restored.
News corrected at 18:00 with a name change from Palacio da Alvorada to Palacio do Planalto.
Source: Observador