Dragon-Antiques.com has dated this piece to the 1800s.
~~ Excellent condition, fully overhauled ~~
A stunning early clock from the famous Lepaute dynasty of clockmakers. A superbly modelled bronze eagle carries the clock upon its back, perched upon a rock. The plinth is of beautifully figured Sienna marble mounted with bronze.
The dial is engine turned and silvered bronze. It is signed for H Lepaute.
Both bezels are the original bronze with the earlier bayonet type fitting.
An extensive biography of the Lepaute family is in Tardy Dictionnaire Des Horologers
Jean-Joseph Lepaute, 1769-1846, was the great nephew of the founder of the Lepaute dynasty Jean-Andre Lepaute, 1720-1789. Jean-Joseph joined the Company as junior partner to Pierre-Basil Lepaute who was the son of Jean-Andre's brother Joseph. The partnership was perhaps the most fruitful of them all and together they made a great number of pieces for the Chateaux of the Tuilleries, St. Cloud, Trianon and Fontainebleau. In 1811 the firm divided and Pierre-Basil formed his own firm with his son Pierre-Michel under the name of Lepaute Fils. Jean-Joseph Lepaute later took on Augustin-Michel Henry who was the son of Pierre Henry who had married Jean-Andre Lepaute's sister Elizabeth. Pierre later changed his name to Henry Neveu Lepaute and married Annais, the daughter of Jean-Joseph.
The Bronzier Jeune Pailly is also listed in Tardy as working in 1812.
The French movement is of high quality and is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. It is an early, large plated version of the Pendule de Paris movement, originally silk suspension but converted to steel suspension sometime in the second half of the 19th century. Pendulum is original to the steel suspension conversion and is specially shaped to fit the case. It runs for 8 days and strikes the hours and halves on a bell. We have a video clip of the clock running, please ask.
Condition of the case is excellent, the bronze has a lovely, original rich patina. The marble is in good condition, a few nibbles to the edges, a very small chip to the front bottom and top right of the right hand side and some very faint hairlines along natural striations in the rock. It has a good original polish. The glass is good, has probably been replaced at some time.
The dial signed for H Lepaute and the movement front plate marked for the Bronzier Jeune Pailly
Complete with original pendulum, bell and a suitable key. Full setting up instructions supplied if required.
Dimensions of clock:
inches: Height 17 1/2", Width 7 1/4", Depth 5 1/2"
centimetres: Height 44.5 cm, Width 18 cm, Depth 14 cm
Shipping within UK £35
Shipping to USA / Europe £75 by air fully insured
World wide shipping - £85 by air fully insured
Dragon-Antiques.com has dated this piece to the 1800s.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Dragon-Antiques.com Profile Page
Early Bronze and Sienna Marble Eagle Drumhead Clock by Lepaute
