28th Apr, 2010 12:00
Maritime and Scientific Models, Instruments & Art (Undaunted)
238
[M] AN EARLY 19TH-CENTURY WOOD AND METAL MODEL OF...
AN EARLY 19TH-CENTURY WOOD AND METAL MODEL OF A NAPOLEONIC FRENCH 'PONTONNIERS' BRIDGE BUILDING ENGINEER BARGE AND WAGON
the hull of stapled carvel construction with frames, braces, metal fittings, bitts, rowlocks, and accessories including finely worked anchor, paddles, spade, poles etc, mounted on a detailed and accurately constructed four-wheeled wagon, overall -- 6¼ x 28in. (16 x 71cm.); together with a souvenir poster for the Regiment D'Art rie Pontonniers dated 1887 -- 20 x 14in. (51 x 35.5cm.) framed and glazed
(2)
A crucial, but largely unrecognised part of Napoleon's military machine, the specially-created Regiment de Pontonniers gave the Emperor a military edge by allowing him to outflank his enemies, being particularly useful in his retreat from Russia in 1812, saving the pitifully few survivors from certain death. By negating the need to march to established bridges, this Corps were able to establish temporary pontoon bridges in advance of the army's arrival at strategic points in a river. Originally developed by General Jean-Baptiste Eblé who took on a rabble of Rhine boatmen, he taught them to construct a bridge of up to eighty pontoons some 150 meters long in under seven hours. Although they were not lauded publicly by the Emperor, he regarded his pontonnier's enough to have no less than fourteen companies of them in his armies. All materials were carried in the pontonnier's wagon train of which this lot is a rare and early example.
the hull of stapled carvel construction with frames, braces, metal fittings, bitts, rowlocks, and accessories including finely worked anchor, paddles, spade, poles etc, mounted on a detailed and accurately constructed four-wheeled wagon, overall -- 6¼ x 28in. (16 x 71cm.); together with a souvenir poster for the Regiment D'Art rie Pontonniers dated 1887 -- 20 x 14in. (51 x 35.5cm.) framed and glazed
(2)
A crucial, but largely unrecognised part of Napoleon's military machine, the specially-created Regiment de Pontonniers gave the Emperor a military edge by allowing him to outflank his enemies, being particularly useful in his retreat from Russia in 1812, saving the pitifully few survivors from certain death. By negating the need to march to established bridges, this Corps were able to establish temporary pontoon bridges in advance of the army's arrival at strategic points in a river. Originally developed by General Jean-Baptiste Eblé who took on a rabble of Rhine boatmen, he taught them to construct a bridge of up to eighty pontoons some 150 meters long in under seven hours. Although they were not lauded publicly by the Emperor, he regarded his pontonnier's enough to have no less than fourteen companies of them in his armies. All materials were carried in the pontonnier's wagon train of which this lot is a rare and early example.
Sold for £19,840
Estimated at £1,500 - £2,500
(inc. buyer's premium of 24%)
AN EARLY 19TH-CENTURY WOOD AND METAL MODEL OF A NAPOLEONIC FRENCH 'PONTONNIERS' BRIDGE BUILDING ENGINEER BARGE AND WAGON
the hull of stapled carvel construction with frames, braces, metal fittings, bitts, rowlocks, and accessories including finely worked anchor, paddles, spade, poles etc, mounted on a detailed and accurately constructed four-wheeled wagon, overall -- 6¼ x 28in. (16 x 71cm.); together with a souvenir poster for the Regiment D'Art rie Pontonniers dated 1887 -- 20 x 14in. (51 x 35.5cm.) framed and glazed
(2)
A crucial, but largely unrecognised part of Napoleon's military machine, the specially-created Regiment de Pontonniers gave the Emperor a military edge by allowing him to outflank his enemies, being particularly useful in his retreat from Russia in 1812, saving the pitifully few survivors from certain death. By negating the need to march to established bridges, this Corps were able to establish temporary pontoon bridges in advance of the army's arrival at strategic points in a river. Originally developed by General Jean-Baptiste Eblé who took on a rabble of Rhine boatmen, he taught them to construct a bridge of up to eighty pontoons some 150 meters long in under seven hours. Although they were not lauded publicly by the Emperor, he regarded his pontonnier's enough to have no less than fourteen companies of them in his armies. All materials were carried in the pontonnier's wagon train of which this lot is a rare and early example.
the hull of stapled carvel construction with frames, braces, metal fittings, bitts, rowlocks, and accessories including finely worked anchor, paddles, spade, poles etc, mounted on a detailed and accurately constructed four-wheeled wagon, overall -- 6¼ x 28in. (16 x 71cm.); together with a souvenir poster for the Regiment D'Art rie Pontonniers dated 1887 -- 20 x 14in. (51 x 35.5cm.) framed and glazed
(2)
A crucial, but largely unrecognised part of Napoleon's military machine, the specially-created Regiment de Pontonniers gave the Emperor a military edge by allowing him to outflank his enemies, being particularly useful in his retreat from Russia in 1812, saving the pitifully few survivors from certain death. By negating the need to march to established bridges, this Corps were able to establish temporary pontoon bridges in advance of the army's arrival at strategic points in a river. Originally developed by General Jean-Baptiste Eblé who took on a rabble of Rhine boatmen, he taught them to construct a bridge of up to eighty pontoons some 150 meters long in under seven hours. Although they were not lauded publicly by the Emperor, he regarded his pontonnier's enough to have no less than fourteen companies of them in his armies. All materials were carried in the pontonnier's wagon train of which this lot is a rare and early example.
Auction: Maritime and Scientific Models, Instruments & Art (Undaunted), 28th Apr, 2010
