Hong Kong, May 29, 2022
LOT 377
L’Epée
Eight-day going carriage-clock, hours and half-hours striking, hour-repeater, alarm, double date, moon phases, tourbillon regulator; limited edition of 150 pieces made for the 150th anniversary of the manufacture; gilded brass and Limoges enamel
HKD 100,000 - 150,000
EUR 12,000 - 18,000 / CHF 12,600 - 18,900 / USD 12,700 - 19,100
Gilded brass and Limoges enamel, key-winding, vertical rectangular-shape, eight-day going, carriage-clock, with six horological complications:
· Hours and half-hour striking in passing on one gong
· Hour-repeater on the same gong (activated by depressing the button on top of the cabinet)
· Alarm on the same gong via a small hammer (subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock)
· Date of the month (subsidiary dial at 5 o’clock)
· Day of the week (subsidiary dial at 7 o’clock; indications given in French)
· Age and phases of the moon (subsidiary dial, graduated from 0 to 29 ½, and aperture at 6 o’clock; inside the dial)
· Two-tune musical mechanism (winding thru the base; not considered as a horological complication)
“Gorge” case with two Limoges enamel side panels mounted on hinged doors, signed P. Bonnet, Limoges (“MOF”, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, Best Craftsman of France), after Gustave Courbet paintings; the top with glazed aperture to view the escapement.
White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals; blued steel “Breguet” hands. Guilloché (engine-turned) gilded brass false-plate.
Movement, 100 x 70 mm., two going barrels, engraved plat-form escapement with one-minute tourbillon regulator, lever escapement, compensated balance with poising screws and flat hairspring, polished steel index-regulator.
“Gorge” case with two Limoges enamel side panels mounted on hinged doors, signed P. Bonnet, Limoges (“MOF”, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, Best Craftsman of France), after Gustave Courbet paintings; the top with glazed aperture to view the escapement.
White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals; blued steel “Breguet” hands. Guilloché (engine-turned) gilded brass false-plate.
Movement, 100 x 70 mm., two going barrels, engraved plat-form escapement with one-minute tourbillon regulator, lever escapement, compensated balance with poising screws and flat hairspring, polished steel index-regulator.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 2* |
Very good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 2-01 |
Very good HANDS Original |
Brand L'Epée, Sainte-Suzanne (France)
Limited Edition limited edition of 150 pieces made for the 150th anniversary of the manufacture, No. 068 / 150
Year circa 1989
Movement No. unnumbered
Case No. 68
Material gilded brass and Limoges enamel
Caliber 100 x 80 mm., plat-form lever escapement with engraved one-minute tourbillon regulator
Height 170 mm. (approx.; without the handle)
Width 108 mm.
Thickness 96 mm.
Weight 3.5 kg. (approx.)
Signature dial and movement
Accessories original fitted box and outer box (fair condition), gilded brass winding-key
Notes
L’Epée
The company L’Epée was founded in 1839 by Auguste L’Epée (1798-1875) in Sainte-Suzanne in France, a village near Besançon (Doubs department). It began by manufacturing horological products and music boxes. From 1850 onwards, the manufactory began to produce escapement platforms for clocks and carriage-clocks and obtained several patents. Later, L’Epée manufactures complete carriage-clocks which become its specialty. For some years now, L’Epée has been established in Switzerland, in Delémont (canton of Jura), and produces very contemporary clocks.
--
Carriage-clocks with tourbillon regulators are very rare; L’Epée made this model in a limited series in the 1980-1990’s. The present clock is particularly attractive, presented in polychrome “champlevé” enamel decorated case imitating the “cloisonné”-work, with, in plus, a skeleton and engraved plat-form escapement.
L’Epee has produced a few examples with gilded brass “Gorge” case, further enhanced by the addition of a calendar, including the date of the month, the day of the week and the phases of the moon (also with tourbillon, repeater and alarm); some of them were sold by special subscription in 1987, in a limited edition, for the 20th anniversary of ANCAHA (Association Nationale des Collectionneurs et Amateurs d’Horlogerie Ancienne), Paris (1967-2015).
In 1989, L’Epee crated a limited edition of 150 pieces to celebrate its 150th anniversary, with gilded brass “Gorge” case with Limoges enamel side panels, and, a calendar, including date of the month, day of the week and moon phases (also with tourbillon, repeater and alarm), and an additional two-tune musical mechanism.
The company L’Epée was founded in 1839 by Auguste L’Epée (1798-1875) in Sainte-Suzanne in France, a village near Besançon (Doubs department). It began by manufacturing horological products and music boxes. From 1850 onwards, the manufactory began to produce escapement platforms for clocks and carriage-clocks and obtained several patents. Later, L’Epée manufactures complete carriage-clocks which become its specialty. For some years now, L’Epée has been established in Switzerland, in Delémont (canton of Jura), and produces very contemporary clocks.
--
Carriage-clocks with tourbillon regulators are very rare; L’Epée made this model in a limited series in the 1980-1990’s. The present clock is particularly attractive, presented in polychrome “champlevé” enamel decorated case imitating the “cloisonné”-work, with, in plus, a skeleton and engraved plat-form escapement.
L’Epee has produced a few examples with gilded brass “Gorge” case, further enhanced by the addition of a calendar, including the date of the month, the day of the week and the phases of the moon (also with tourbillon, repeater and alarm); some of them were sold by special subscription in 1987, in a limited edition, for the 20th anniversary of ANCAHA (Association Nationale des Collectionneurs et Amateurs d’Horlogerie Ancienne), Paris (1967-2015).
In 1989, L’Epee crated a limited edition of 150 pieces to celebrate its 150th anniversary, with gilded brass “Gorge” case with Limoges enamel side panels, and, a calendar, including date of the month, day of the week and moon phases (also with tourbillon, repeater and alarm), and an additional two-tune musical mechanism.