Lot 55
55
A FINE EMPIRE MARBLE AND ORMOLU ALLEGORICAL MANTEL CLOCK

Details
A FINE EMPIRE MARBLE AND ORMOLU ALLEGORICAL MANTEL CLOCK
LÉPINE À PARIS, NO. 4550

Personifying Night, the arched oblong green breccia base on bun feet supporting a draped chariot with two sleeping putti, driven by a third and two horses, the wheel incorporating pierced leafy grill enclosed by signed white enamel chapter ring, blued steel Breguet hands, the movement with anchor escapement, thread suspension to star pendulum, striking the hour and half-hour on bell by means of countwheel, c. 1810--16in. (40cm.) high

Lot Essay

Jean-Antoine Lépine (1720-1814), maître in 1762, was one of the most important Parisian clock makers. He supplied numerous clocks to the court of Louis XVI. His greatest contribution, however, is the watch calibre that bears his name. His radical design broke with a 300-year tradition and ushered in the age of precision time keeping.