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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Pocket Watch by the Firm of Lépine

Partially verified

This pocket watch, held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession number 17.101.5), is attributed to the Firm of Lépine, a Paris-based watchmaking entity active from 1762 to 1914. Manufactured in France between circa 1830 and 1840, the object is constructed using gold and niello. The watch has a recorded diameter of 1 3/4 inches (4.4 cm). It entered the museum's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department as part of the bequest of Laura Frances Hearn in 1917. The record serves as an individual museum object entry, and the attribution is based on the institution's documentation. The piece represents a specific specimen of horological production attributed to the Parisian firm during the first half of the 19th century.

Front view of the gold and niello pocket watch attributed to the Firm of Lépine.
Front view of the gold and niello pocket watch attributed to the Firm of Lépine. — The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Firm of Lépine
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
17.101.5
Source-reported date
ca. 1830–40
Source-reported place
France

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Physical Description and Construction

The pocket watch is constructed from gold and features niello work, a decorative technique applied to the surface. It measures 1 3/4 inches in diameter. The visible surface of the watch exhibits elaborate floral relief work, which occupies the primary field of the dial plate. The surrounding bezel and the bow feature fine, repetitive decorative patterns.

The central area displays a dense arrangement of engraved floral motifs, while the dial surface itself shows a fine guilloché or engine-turned texture throughout the field.

Evidence for this section
  • “Gold, niello”
  • “Diameter: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm)”

Maker Attribution and Provenance

The object is attributed to the Firm of Lépine, an entity documented as active in Paris between 1762 and 1914. The attribution of this specific watch is derived from the records held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The firm's long history in Paris is noted in the institutional records associated with this specimen.

The watch was incorporated into the museum's collection as a result of the bequest of Laura Frances Hearn in 1917. It is currently categorized within the Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts. The record notes that the specific documentation for the item is provided by the museum's internal collection database.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watchmaker: Firm of Lépine (French, active Paris, 1762–1914)”
  • “Bequest of Laura Frances Hearn, 1917”

Institutional Record

The object is registered under the accession number 17.101.5 within The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The metadata confirms the provenance through the bequest and identifies the material composition as gold and niello. No further catalogue references are provided in the current documentation, and internal numbers or signatures are not transcribed in this record. The information is restricted to that provided by the holding institution.

Evidence for this section
  • “17.101.5”
  • “These details come from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's own record of this object”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific movement caliber contained within the gold and niello case?
  • Are there identifiable hallmarks or casemaker marks present on the interior of the case back that confirm the production date?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Pocket Watch by the Firm of Lépine
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerFirm of Lépine“Watchmaker: Firm of Lépine (French, active Paris, 1762–1914)”
MaterialsGold, niello“Gold, niello”
Dateca. 1830–40“ca. 1830–40”
Diameter1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm)“Diameter: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm)”
Accession number17.101.5“17.101.5”
CreditBequest of Laura Frances Hearn, 1917“Bequest of Laura Frances Hearn, 1917”
DepartmentEuropean Sculpture and Decorative Arts“Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts”

Visible details

  • Decorative floral engraving on the dial plate
  • Central hand mounting
  • Circular dial aperture for winding or setting
  • Beaded or patterned bezel edge

Research qualifications

  • The internal movement configuration remains unverified by provided text
  • Hallmarks and internal signatures are not documented in the provided source

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Watch by Firm of Lépine, French, Paris, ca. 1830–40

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 0a523542c2

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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