Lepine Hger

Lepine Hger. du Roy A. Paris, "Invenit et Fecit, No. 5659, with Paris hallmarks for 1789. Very fine 18k gold and enamel, pearl-set watch with wolf toothed train. Double body with fixed bezel and concealed hinge by Guillaume Mermillod (Master Mark), split-pearl set bezels pendant and bow, the back panel of green translucent enamel over engine-turning, centred with a miniature painted en grisaille depicting Venus and Cupid by the altar of Love. Hinged gilt brass cuvette. White enamel with mixed Roman and Arabic numerals. Gold pierced "fleur-de-lys and arrow" hands. Notes This watch is a very good example of Lepine 's production for a very short period between 1788 and 1790. Not only by the case with concealed hinge and fixed bezel, but also by the movement with wolf tooth wheel train, wound 6 om the back through the hinged gilt brass cuvette, and by the dial with mixed Roman and Arabic numerals, chapter I being surrounded by a thin line. It is extremely rare to find a watch with such unusual features in such a good condition. Together with the very elegant interlaced hands, those three features mark the ultimate development of the style inn oduced byJean-Antoine Lepine. This watch is illustrated by A. Chapiro in his hook, jean-Antoiw Lepine Worloger (1720-1814), Les editions de 1 ' amateur, Paris 1988, fig. 10/11, 10/31 et 10/87 a 10/89. For the details about dial with mixed Roman and Arabic numerals is refer to the now of lot No. 265.