Online Pamono Mantel Clock from Lepine Paris, 1870

Mantel Clock in Louis XVI style

Paris
Ormolu, glass, marble
around 1870

Dimensions: H x W x D: 46 x 24 x 17 cm

:
Extremely high quality and finely crafted Parisian pendule in the Louis XVI style from the second half of the 19th century.

Standing on round, downwardly tapering feet, the Carrara marble base is decorated with inlaid laurel tendrils and inlaid beadwork.
A much narrower stele with bronze openwork in front of glazed surfaces rises on top. The blue of the original glass panes contrasts beautifully with the fire-gilt bronze and emphasises the warm hue of the ormolu.
Below the dial we see two roosters rising from acanthus tendrils, the symbols and heraldic animals of France. The Louis XVI bow that connects the two roosters is also found above the dial.
The sides of the clock are also elaborately crafted. Once again against a blue background, we see full baskets of flowers, rose and laurel branches. The interplay of lustre and matt gilding enlivens the work. Details such as leaf structures and wickerwork are finely worked out and are clearly recognisable in some of the photos.
An arrangement of arrows, torches and rosaries, supported on a cushion and held by a ribbon, forms the crown of the clock. Here, too, the high quality of the bronze work is evident in the finely chiselled details.

The enamelled dial behind domed glass is in fantastic condition. The Roman numerals on the hours echo the blue of the glass, while the minute track, Arabic numerals and signature are in black: Lepine, Place des Victoires, 2, Paris.

The signature, as well as the striking stamp on the back of the movement, stands for Maison Lepine, founded by Jean-Antoine Lépine (1720-1814), clockmaker to the royal court, whose workshop was continued by his son-in-law Raguet from 1792. The Lepine workshop and adjoining shop changed hands several times over the course of the 19th century, the watchmaking was largely outsourced, but the name Lepine, which was widely recognised and synonymous with top quality, was always stamped on the clocks. The business operated under the name Lepine until 1919, when it was finally sold to the Leroy family of clockmakers and henceforth bore this name.

The French pendulum movement with an eight-day power reserve and locking disc striking mechanism was manufactured by S. Marti & Cie for Maison Lepine. A corresponding stamp can also be found on the back plate of the movement.
The exquisitely crafted, fire-gilt sun pendulum suspended from a pendulum spring is worthy of mention. Such an elaborate pendulum is rarely found in clocks in which the pendulum is not visible from the outside. Although the pendulum movement can be recognised through the blue glass, the fineness of the bronze cannot. The fact that the pendulum and movement originally belong together is shown by the identical strike mark on both parts: 26398.

The bronze work is attributed to the Denière Fils workshop, which was based on Rue Charlot in Paris from 1860-1890 (see Tardy Dictionnaire Horlogers Francais p. 176). Several stamped, almost identical bronze pieces by Denière are known. The quality corresponds to the clock offered here. Denière was famous for his exceptional bronze casts and exhibited at the Paris World Exhibition in 1855. He had several royal commissions, including the coronation carriage of Charles X.

Condition:
Flawless and absolutely desirable condition of the case. The condition of the original fire gilding is outstanding and almost free of abrasion.
The movement has been completely dismantled, cleaned and overhauled. The clock runs reliably and accurately.

You can find out more about the Maison Lepine in the following reference book:
Tardy – Dictionnaire des Horlogers Fancais from p. 286

The signature S.Marti is itemised in the following reference book:
Kochmann – Clock & Watch Trademark Index p. 259