Mysterious Empire Period Clock – Portico Clock Attributed To Lepaute

Rare Empire period (1804-1815) portico clock, known as architectural, in finely chiseled mercury-gilded bronze and its black marble base, attributed to Lepaute. The movement is supported by four flat fluted pilasters with lotus leaf capitals supporting a vault decorated with stars.
All these ornaments recall the quintessence of decorative arts under the First Empire. The large domed dial in white enamel with Roman numerals is accompanied by fine blued Breguet hands.
The clock strikes the half-hours and hours with a crystalline sound from the airin timpani.

The particularity of this clock and what makes it rare lies in its two-point mechanism :

- The knife suspension, which was used from 1780, is remarkable. This mechanism is mainly found on prestigious models, such as on large precision regulators. It consists of placing the balance on a triangular knife whose faces have a mirror polish. This suspension has the advantage of a more homogeneous, perfectly linear pendulum movement with a better amplitude.
- The oscillation system at the top represents a shooting star, beating "counter-current" to the movement of the pendulum. This exceptional system, of great rarity, makes this clock a true masterpiece of French watchmaking of the First Empire. This is why it is called mysterious.

The Lepaute family formed an important dynasty of Parisian watchmakers from the 18th century. From 1795 to 1811, Pierre-Basile Lepaute, known as Sully-Lepaute (1750-1843) was assisted by his nephew Jean-Joseph Lepaute (1768- ?). In 1811, he formed a new partnership with his son Pierre-Michel (1785-1849) under the name of "Lepaute et fils". Under the reign of Napoleon I, the company that was the main supplier of clocks to the Garde-Meuble, was named Clockmaker to the Emperor and, after the Restoration of the Bourbon Monarchy, Clockmaker to the King.
The superb balance wheel formed by a sun with a mask, bimetallic with symmetrical oscillation, is adjustable with a small endless screw. Black marble base decorated with palmettes, foliage, resting on four loaf feet.

Dimensions: Height 47 cm / width 23 cm / depth 10 cm
Key and timpani present.
Bronze a little tarnished on the vault. A similar but simplified model (not having the shooting star oscillating system) is listed in the book "Les plus belles pendules françaises" (1994, Tardy, p.373).

The clock works, a revision of the movement will nevertheless be expected.
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