HENRY AND J.J. LEPAUTE, PARIS, 18/06 + 7
Details
AN EMPIRE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY MONTH-GOING TABLE REGULATOR WITH EQUATION OF TIME AND YEAR CALENDAR
henry and j.j. lepaute, paris, 18/06 + 7
The circular white enamel Roman and Arabic dial with finely pierced and chased ormolu solar hour and minute hands, counterbalanced steel mean time minute hand, counterbalanced blued steel sweep center seconds hand, the cut-out window below XII revealing a revolving inner white enamel year calendar ring inscribed with the months, their sign and relevant date, the dial signed H. Lepaute à Paris, year calendar adjustment square between chapters VIII and IX, the equation kidney mounted between the dial plate and movement having thick rectangular plates secured with four back-pinned pillars, the pinwheel escapement mounted on the backplate signed H. & J.J. Lepaute à Paris. 18/06 + 7 with fine adjustment to the crutchpiece for the gridiron pendulum with nine steel and gilt brass rods of circular section, the reverse with ormolu circular beat weight with ultra-fine adjustment, the front with an ormolu temperature scale with blued steel pointer, steel pointer below the bob swinging within a gilt-metal calibrated beat scale, the case with large rectangular glazed viewing portal to the moulded top with dentilled entablature decorated with foliate, beaded and rosette ormolu mounts, similar ormolu beading to the sides, front and rear doors with hidden pin-hole spring catches, the dial with ormolu tasseled drapes below and with foliate spandrels, the base with a finely cast egg-and-dart moulding and on ormolu block feet
19½in. (49.5cm) high
henry and j.j. lepaute, paris, 18/06 + 7
The circular white enamel Roman and Arabic dial with finely pierced and chased ormolu solar hour and minute hands, counterbalanced steel mean time minute hand, counterbalanced blued steel sweep center seconds hand, the cut-out window below XII revealing a revolving inner white enamel year calendar ring inscribed with the months, their sign and relevant date, the dial signed H. Lepaute à Paris, year calendar adjustment square between chapters VIII and IX, the equation kidney mounted between the dial plate and movement having thick rectangular plates secured with four back-pinned pillars, the pinwheel escapement mounted on the backplate signed H. & J.J. Lepaute à Paris. 18/06 + 7 with fine adjustment to the crutchpiece for the gridiron pendulum with nine steel and gilt brass rods of circular section, the reverse with ormolu circular beat weight with ultra-fine adjustment, the front with an ormolu temperature scale with blued steel pointer, steel pointer below the bob swinging within a gilt-metal calibrated beat scale, the case with large rectangular glazed viewing portal to the moulded top with dentilled entablature decorated with foliate, beaded and rosette ormolu mounts, similar ormolu beading to the sides, front and rear doors with hidden pin-hole spring catches, the dial with ormolu tasseled drapes below and with foliate spandrels, the base with a finely cast egg-and-dart moulding and on ormolu block feet
19½in. (49.5cm) high
Literature
Jean-Joseph Lepaute, 1769-1846, was the great nephew of the founder of the Lepaute dynasty Jean-André Lepaute, 1720-1789.
Jean-Joseph joined the Company as junior partner to Pierre-Basil Lepaute who was the son of Jean-André's brother Joseph. The partnership was perhaps the most fruitful of them all and together they made a great number of pieces for the Châteaux of the Tuilleries, St. Cloud, Trianon and Fontainebleau. In 1811 the firm divided and Pierre-Basil formed his own firm with his son Pierre-Michel under the name of Lepaute Fils.
Jean-Joseph Lepaute later took on Augustin-Michel Henry who was the son of Pierre Henry who had married Jean-André Lepaute's sister Elizabeth. Pierre later changed his name to Henry Neveu Lepaute and married Annais, the daughter of Jean-Joseph.
The Lepaute dynasty continued but the present clock is a remarkable achievement of best quality clockmaking and the very highest quality case-work. The ormolu mounts bear the closest of attention and serve to enhance the white enamel dial which has a charming understated lay-out that almost hides the fact that it can show both the equation of time and the full year calendar.
Jean-Joseph joined the Company as junior partner to Pierre-Basil Lepaute who was the son of Jean-André's brother Joseph. The partnership was perhaps the most fruitful of them all and together they made a great number of pieces for the Châteaux of the Tuilleries, St. Cloud, Trianon and Fontainebleau. In 1811 the firm divided and Pierre-Basil formed his own firm with his son Pierre-Michel under the name of Lepaute Fils.
Jean-Joseph Lepaute later took on Augustin-Michel Henry who was the son of Pierre Henry who had married Jean-André Lepaute's sister Elizabeth. Pierre later changed his name to Henry Neveu Lepaute and married Annais, the daughter of Jean-Joseph.
The Lepaute dynasty continued but the present clock is a remarkable achievement of best quality clockmaking and the very highest quality case-work. The ormolu mounts bear the closest of attention and serve to enhance the white enamel dial which has a charming understated lay-out that almost hides the fact that it can show both the equation of time and the full year calendar.