Empire Longcase Astronomical Regulator "A equation du temps"

Empire Longcase Astronomical Regulator "A equation du temps", the dial probably by E. Dubuisson (Etienne Dubuisson, 1731 to ca. 1815) and sign. J.J. Lepaute horloger du roi de la ville rue St. Honore (Jean-Baptiste Lepaute, 1727 Paris 1802), Paris c. 1815/20.

Mahogany, moulded and moucheté. Rectangular case, glazed on three sides, with a straight and projecting cornice on a moulded base. A fine enameled dial with Roman hours, Arabic minute numerals, date, zodiac sign and quantième. 5 partly gilt and blued hands. Fine lever movement "à complications" with pin wheel escapement, deadbeat second and 1/2 hour strike on bell as well as "suspension à lame de ressort". The striking train is independent. Fine pendulum with so-called "Harrison" compensation. H 215 cm.

Provenance: - Formerly Vivante Collection, Geneva. - Private collection, western Switzerland. Etienne Gobin, known as Dubuisson, was the most talented and best-known enameller of the period alongside Joseph Coteau. He was born in Lunéville and initially worked as a porcelain painter in Strasbourg and Chantilly. From 1756 to 1759 he worked for the Manufacture de Sèvres and specialised in painting clock cases and enamel dials. He sold his exceptionally fine work primarily to clockmakers such as Dieudonné Kinable - famous for his lyre pendulums - and Robert Robin, purveyor to the court of King Louis XVI. Pierre-Basile (1750-1843) and J.J. Lepaute (1768-1849) worked together as Lepaute Oncle & Neveu from 1795 to 1811. Pierre-Basile Lepaute came from a highly important clockmaking dynasty, in whose workshops he learnt the art of the trade. Initially working as a partner of Jean-Baptiste Lepaute (1727 Paris 1802, "Horloger du Roi"), he bought his uncle's company in 1774 with P.H. Lepaute (1749 Paris 1806) and continued to run it with great success. The Lepaute brothers worked with the best artists and craftsmen of their time: the sculptors Clodion, J.A. Houdon, J.B. Stouf, G.P. Gauvet and A. Pajou, with the architects Le Carpentier and de Wailly, F.J. Bélanger and Peyre, the "ciseleurs" J. and P. Caffiéri, P. Gouthière, L.P. and P.P. Thomire, E. Martincourt, F. Vion and many more. They had their own models made by C. Bénard and gilded by L.F. Gobert or F. Rémond. For "caisses en marqueterie" they used the services of N. Petit and for special commissions A.J. Jollain, B. II Van Risenburgh, J.B. Lependu, J.F. Leleu etc.