Collector's Pocket Watches, Wristwatc...

Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 12, 2003

LOT 451

Lépine, Horloger du Roi, Paris, No. 4085, circa 1790.Very fine and rare gilt bronze striking hours and half-hours traveling clock with special escapement.

CHF 70,000 - 90,000

EUR 48,000 - 62,000 / USD 52,000 - 67,000

Sold: CHF 74,750

C. Rectangular with domed top, the front lower corners engraved with symbols of Astronomy and Geometry, the top with musical and military trophies, glazed sides, hinged back door, bun feet, triangular handle. D. White enamel, radial Arabic numerals, outer minute dot divisions with five-minute Arabic markers. Gilt "fleur-de-lis" hands. M. Rectangular, 14 x 13 mm., two going barrels, special form of lever escapement with escape wheel derived from that of virgule, three-arm brass balance, flat balnce spring, striking on two bells, count wheel on the back plate. Signed on dial and movement.Dim. Height 22 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3*
Dial: 3 - 6 - 13 - 01

Notes

Lépine numbered his clocks starting with a 4000 serial number. This is one of only two traveling clocks known to have been made by him. It employs a very interesting and rare form of lever escapement and striking on two bells. The form of this traveling clock was to become the standard for carriage clocks.The clock is illustrated in "I Ritmi Del Tempo", by Lodovico Magistretti & Luigi Pippa, Milano, 1998, page 49.