A FRENCH ORMOLU PENDULE Jean-Antoine-Lépine, Paris,... Lot 2351

A FRENCH ORMOLU PENDULE Jean-Antoine-Lépine, Paris, ca. 1800 42,5 x 30 x 19,5 cm Fire-gilt, engraved bronze case in portal form with later glass displays. Enamelled dial (slightly damaged) with Roman numerals, date and blued hands, marked LÉPINE Place des Victoires No. 12. Large pendulum movement with 8-day running time, half-hour striking on bell. Glass partly with chips, worn, movement not tested. Jean-Antoine Lépine (1720-1814) originally came from Geneva and was apprenticed to the court clockmaker André Caron in Paris in 1744. He was appointed Maître in 1762 and at the same time received the coveted post of Horloger du Roi (Louix XV) et du Garde-Meuble de la Coronne. He was based in Rue Saint-Denis until 1772 and then relocated his business several times before moving to 12 Place des Victoires in 1789. At this point, the management of the company was in the hands of his son-in-law Claude-Pierre Raguet-Lépine (1753-1810), who had joined Lépine in 1783.