Gold & enamel verge by Lepine, Paris

A small Paris verge in a gold case, with enamel decoration.

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with engraved and pierced balance bridge, silvered regulator disk and four round pillars. Signed L’Epine, A Paris.

In good condition and running well.

DIAL : A signed white enamel dial, in very good condition except for some damage around the right hand edge of the winding aperture.

Crystal set white metal hands. Two crystals missing from the minute hand.

CASE : An attractive gold case, with enamel decoration to the back and a crystal set bezel. The back enamel plaque shows a girl, with two doves in a garden setting.

No maker’s or gold marks but the case tests as high carat gold (about 15 ct.).

The gold is in good condition, with the engraving still crisp, although a little wear to the stem and bow. The hinges and catch are complete and the bezel snaps shut. The crystal set bezel is complete with no crystals missing. The catch button has been reattached and is probably a replacement.

The border around the plaque on the back is decorated with red, blue, white and green beads. There are a few pieces of enamel missing, but generally good. The enamel plaque itself is in poor condition, with damage to the white enamel border. The whole plaque has been over varnished and
this has yellowed with age and has peeled off in places.
The high dome crystal is good.

Jean Antoine Lepine worked in Paris (from Geneva) from 1744 until 1810. During some of this time he was the horologer to Louis XV.