Vintage L'Epee Gorge - Made in France

Made in France
Strike repeater on large, resonant gong
Alarm
Enamel dial
Jeweled platform escapement
Five pieces of beveled glass
The first authentic carriage clock was made in Paris at the start of the 19th Century, by Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823).

Carriage clocks are also known in France as "officer's clocks" and the name is based on an historical anecdote. It is said that Napoleon, having almost lost a battle because one of his officers was late, ordered his military chiefs to carry a carriage clock with them at all times. Orders placed with master clockmakers always included the reference "a clock for an officer" and this brought the name into common parlance.

In 1777, in the Montbeliard area of France, Frederic Japy established the world's first large-scale clockmaking factory. Several more factories were set up in the area in due course, in imitation of the illustrious pioneer. One of them was the L'Epee workshop that in 1839 began producing movements, escapements and finally complete clocks. It also made musical boxes that later found their way into the world's finest collections in museums and private homes.

The L'Epee factory received prestigious gold awards at various international exhibitions. In Paris in 1889 and 1900, Vienna 1892, Hanoi 1902, the Americas and Great Britain. Then, as now, L'Epee clocks were to be found in most countries in the world.

In 1999 the ownership and production facility of L'Epee moved to England, following its acquisition by F.A. Gluck, the London based clockmakers.

In 2008, the Swiss manufacturer SWIZA SA is writing a new chapter in the history of carriage clocks in reproducing these famous vintage models.

This particular model is one from the original French factory. It has an excellent patina and is in perfect condition. It's porcelain dial and jeweled escapement are lovely examples of a very fine piece of timekeeping art.

Email us at clocks@northcoastimports.net if you are interested in this piece. This clock, or one like it, might be available for purchase.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• carriage
• L'Epee
• clock
• timepiece
• France
• Alarm Clock
• jeweled escapement