THE PROPERTY OF A COLLECTOR (LOTS 332-333)

AN EMPIRE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY MONTH-GOING TABLE REGULATOR WITH EQUATION OF TIME AND YEAR CALENDAR

HENRY AND JEAN-JOSEPH LEPAUTE, PARIS. DATED 18/06 + 7

Details

AN EMPIRE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY MONTH-GOING TABLE REGULATOR WITH EQUATION OF TIME AND YEAR CALENDAR
HENRY AND JEAN-JOSEPH LEPAUTE, PARIS. DATED 18/06 + 7
CASE: moulded top with dentilled entablature, with beaded and rosette ormolu mounts, similar ormolu beading to the sides, front and rear doors with hidden pin-hole spring catches, dial surround with ormolu dapery and foliate spandrels, base with egg-and-dart moulding, ormolu block feet DIAL: white enamel, signed 'H. Lepaute à Paris', with aperture for revolving white enamel year calendar ring inscribed with the months, their days and signs, pierced and engraved ormolu solar hour and minute hands, polished steel mean minute hand, blued steel centre seconds MOVEMENT: twin barrels, pinwheel escapement to back plate signed 'H. & J.J. Lepaute à Paris. 18/06 + 7', fine beat adjustment to crutchpiece, countwheel strike on bell; fine gridiron pendulum, its reverse with ormolu circular fine adjustment weight, its front with ormolu temperature scale with blued steel pointer
19½ in. (49.5 cm.) high; 10¾ in. (27.5 cm.) wide; 9 in. (23 cm.) deep

Provenance

Christie's London, The Vitale Collection, 26 November 1996, lot 277.

Literature

D. Roberts, Precision Pendulum Clocks: France, Germany, America and Recent Advancements, Atglen, 2004, p. 27, fig. 25-10.

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Lot Essay

The illustrious Lepaute dynasty of clockmakers began with Jean-André Lepaute, who moved to Paris in 1740. He was joined by his brother Jean-Baptiste and subsequently by their nephews Pierre Henry and Pierre Bazile. In 1795 the latter took over the running of the business and brought in his nephew Jean Joseph (1769-1846, known as Collignon). Jean Joseph became the best known of the family. He set up on his own in 1811. He was appointed clockmaker to Napoleon I and made clocks for the palaces at Fontainebleau, St Cloud and de Compiègne. He moved to rue de Richelieu in 1847 and 247 rue St. Honoré in 1821. He was appointed clockmaker to the King and also to the Chamber of Deputies. See D. Roberts (op. cit.), p. 21.

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