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Lot Essay
Jean-Antoine Lepine (1720-1814) was one of the foremost clockmakers of his time. He moved to Paris around 1745 and was subsequently made Horloger du Roi. In 1783, Lepine left his business to his son-in-law and partner, Claude Pierre Raguet, who continued to sign his clocks 'Lepine'. They were clearly a significant source of clocks for the Royal family as the 1788 inventory conducted by the Garde Meuble listed at least thirty examples.
Two models by Lepine, including one that was delivered to the Royal family, closely relate to the present clock. They are among the most technically ambitious models Lepine ever made, with multiple dials showing moon phases and even times in different cities flanking the same laurel-draped lyre seen in the present lot. One with the case attributed to the bronzier Etienne Martincourt, was delivered to Mesdames, the daughters of Louis XV and is now in the Detroit Museum of Art (71.215) and another now in the Minneapolis Museum of Art (88.88.1A-G) from the collection of the Arch Chancellor Chambacérès was possibly owned by the Comte de Provence.
Two models by Lepine, including one that was delivered to the Royal family, closely relate to the present clock. They are among the most technically ambitious models Lepine ever made, with multiple dials showing moon phases and even times in different cities flanking the same laurel-draped lyre seen in the present lot. One with the case attributed to the bronzier Etienne Martincourt, was delivered to Mesdames, the daughters of Louis XV and is now in the Detroit Museum of Art (71.215) and another now in the Minneapolis Museum of Art (88.88.1A-G) from the collection of the Arch Chancellor Chambacérès was possibly owned by the Comte de Provence.