LEPAUTE PARIS 18 KT GOLD 1798 JEWELED ENAMELED POCKET WATCH FRENCH ROYAL PROVENANCE
RARE OPEN FACE POCKET WATCH WITH ROYAL PROVENANCE, MADE BY LEPAUTE. DESIGNED IN FRANCE BY THE MASTER WATCH AND CLOCK MAKER PIERRE BASILE LEPAUTE (1750-1843). THE MOVEMENT IS SIGN BY LEPAUTE, PARIS AND DATED 1798.
Pierre-Basile Lepaute, known as Sully-Lepaute. Was one of the most important Parisian clock makers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In the mid 1760’s he went to work with his uncles, who were also clock makers, and began his training in the family workshop. In the early days he was in partnership with his uncle and cousin, in 1789 becoming sole owner of the workshop. Toward the end of the 18th century, he and his nephew Jean-Joseph Lepaute founded a new company that was active until 1811 and won a silver medal at the 1806 Exposition des Produits de l’Industrie. In 1811, his nephew opened his own workshop, while Pierre-Basile and his son Pierre-Michel (1785-1849) founded a new firm called “Lepaute et fils”. For several decades they were the principal suppliers of clocks to the Imperial and Royal Garde-Meuble; they were named, successively, Horloger de l’Empereur and Horloger du Roi. Was Clock master of the Duc de Bourbon, the Comte D'Artois, Napoleon Emperour, The King Louis XVIII and The King Charles X.
THIS EXCEPTIONAL POCKET WATCH IS CRAFTED IN FOUR COLORS OF TEXTURED SOLID 18 KARAT GOLD. HAND PAINT AND DECORATED WITH ENAMEL SHOWING THE PORTRAIT OF A NOBLE YOUNG WOMAN. ALL ENCIRCLED BY A FLORAL PATTERN AND A LAUREATE ROYAL CROWN. ALL ACCENTED WITH ROSE CUT DIAMONDS CORRESPONDENT TO THE XVIII CENTURY PERIOD (some missing). SUITED WITH AN INVISIBLE CLOSURE SYSTEM AND A TRIPLE HINGED COVERS.
THE PORTRAIT IS PROBABLY A FRENCH OR AN EUROPEAN ROYAL PRINCESS. THE SETTING AROUND, THE FORM AND SHAPE OF THE CROWN WITH LAURELS POINT THIS THEORY.
THIS PIECE HAVE A TOTAL WEIGHT OF 54.65 GRAMS AND HAVE THE HALL MARKS, "LEPAUTE PARIS # 226 JD 1798" HAVE A DIAMETER OF 39 mm AND THE STEM HAVE 18 mm.
THIS POCKET WATCH CASE IS IN OVERALL VERY GOOD CONDITION BUT THE MOVEMENT NEED RESTORATION, ALL PARTS ARE THERE INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL RARE MECHANICAL "BICYCLE CHAIN". THE GLASS IS A MODERN REPLACEMENT. THE WHITE PORCELAIN DIAL IS IN WONDERFUL PERFECT CONDITION AND GREAT SHAPE, NOT RESTORED. THIS PIECE HAVE ALL THE ORIGINAL PATINA NEVER POLISHED OR ALTERED IN ANY WAY, VERY RARE PIECE OF HISTORY. WE ACQUIRED THIS PIECE ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO AND WE ARE OFFERING THIS IN THE SAME ANTIQUE BOX AND SAME CONDITION WITH ABSOLUTELY NO INTERVENTIONS.
INVENTORY REF: M0000CEN
