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Lot Essay
Jean-André Lepaute, maître horloger in 1759.
Etienne Gobin, known as Dubuisson (d. 1822).
Jean-André Lepaute (1720-1789) was born at Tonne-la-long in the department of the Meuse. His father was a maker of farm implements and had planned to enter the young Jean-André into a monastic order. However, for whatever reason the boy was put with a bronzier at Marton near Carignan and it was there that he made his first rough clock. Obviously talented he was allowed to travel to Paris to do his apprenticeship although it is not known who to.
About 1748, his brother Jean-Baptiste joined him in a family business partnership that carried on for several generations. In 1749 he made a shrewd move and married Nicole-Reine-Etable de la Brière who was born in the Palais du Luxembourg, where her father was attaché to Elizabeth of Orleans, Queen of Spain. Lepaute's wife was one of the most talented women in France being especially celebrated for her knowledge of astronomy. When she was 38 she was made a member of the Academy of sciences of Béziers. Lepaute was made Horloger du Roi and in 1751 made a clock for the King with one wheel only, in 1752 another which gave the hours, minutes and seconds and struck the hours and quarters having but one toothed wheel and two countwheels. Jean-André himself had no offspring but his two nephews took over Maison Lepaute. One, Pierre-Henri, became Horloger du Roi and on retiring his cousin Pierre-Basil took his nephew into the business. In 1811, the firm divided and the name carried on as Lepaute & Fils.
A number of related clocks exist at the Châteaux of Tuileries, St. Cloud, Trianon and Fontainbleau.
Etienne Gobin, known as Dubuisson (d. 1822).
Jean-André Lepaute (1720-1789) was born at Tonne-la-long in the department of the Meuse. His father was a maker of farm implements and had planned to enter the young Jean-André into a monastic order. However, for whatever reason the boy was put with a bronzier at Marton near Carignan and it was there that he made his first rough clock. Obviously talented he was allowed to travel to Paris to do his apprenticeship although it is not known who to.
About 1748, his brother Jean-Baptiste joined him in a family business partnership that carried on for several generations. In 1749 he made a shrewd move and married Nicole-Reine-Etable de la Brière who was born in the Palais du Luxembourg, where her father was attaché to Elizabeth of Orleans, Queen of Spain. Lepaute's wife was one of the most talented women in France being especially celebrated for her knowledge of astronomy. When she was 38 she was made a member of the Academy of sciences of Béziers. Lepaute was made Horloger du Roi and in 1751 made a clock for the King with one wheel only, in 1752 another which gave the hours, minutes and seconds and struck the hours and quarters having but one toothed wheel and two countwheels. Jean-André himself had no offspring but his two nephews took over Maison Lepaute. One, Pierre-Henri, became Horloger du Roi and on retiring his cousin Pierre-Basil took his nephew into the business. In 1811, the firm divided and the name carried on as Lepaute & Fils.
A number of related clocks exist at the Châteaux of Tuileries, St. Cloud, Trianon and Fontainbleau.