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Lot Essay
The present watch is a fine example of Lepaute's work, distinguished by its very small size for an 18th century quarter repeating watch and the attractive enamel decoration.
The celebrated French watchmaker Jean-André Lepaute (1720 - 1787) largely contributed to the progress of watchmaking in France in the 18th century. At the early age of 20 he settled in Paris and opened his own workshop. His talent and abilities did not remain undiscovered and soon he was given an apartment by the King in the Palais du Luxembourg who also named him as responsible for the construction of the majority of the large public clocks. Lepaute made, amongst others, those of the Palais du Luxembourg, the Jardin des Plantes and Bellevue and Ternes castles. One of his most notable inventions is certainly the virgule escapement.
The celebrated French watchmaker Jean-André Lepaute (1720 - 1787) largely contributed to the progress of watchmaking in France in the 18th century. At the early age of 20 he settled in Paris and opened his own workshop. His talent and abilities did not remain undiscovered and soon he was given an apartment by the King in the Palais du Luxembourg who also named him as responsible for the construction of the majority of the large public clocks. Lepaute made, amongst others, those of the Palais du Luxembourg, the Jardin des Plantes and Bellevue and Ternes castles. One of his most notable inventions is certainly the virgule escapement.