No Reserve
24≌
L'Epée
Ref. 74.6006
TIME FLIES
A unique palladium, brass, and stainless steel key-wound airplane-form clock with eight-day movement, designed in partnership with ECAL – University of Art and Design Lausanne – and sold to benefit Swiss Institute
- Estimate
- $20,000 - 40,000•
$18,900
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- L'Epée
- Year
- 2021
- Reference No
- 74.6006
- Case No
- Unique Piece
- Model Name
- TIME FLIES
- Material
- Palladium, gold-finished brass, PVD-coated stainless steel
- Calibre
- Key-wound, in-house movement
- Dimensions
- 354.3 mm (length) x 442 mm (width) x 137.5 mm (height); weight: 3 kg
- Signed
- Designed by ECAL / Juliette Lefèvre, signed by L’Epée 1839
- Accessories
- Accompanied by mounting stand and travel box.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
TIME FLIES was designed as part of a collaboration between L’Epée 1839 and ECAL-University of Art and Design Lausanne. This unique version was made for TimeForArt and pays tribute to the conquest of the skies and one of the most brilliant inventions ever made: the airplane. Aviation made its mark in the last century, motivating adventurers to go ever higher and ever further, and forever altering how we travel and how we conceive of the time it takes to traverse the planet. TIME FLIES is an 8-day clock in the form of a stylized 1930s plane, offering just enough structure to provide form, and just enough empty space to inspire our imaginations. The stylized color palette and open design imbue the piece with both playfulness and refinement. Hours and minutes are displayed on large diameter stainless steel disks with black PVD coating on a circular-brushed, satin finished surface with stamped numerals.
A quick glance is enough to read the time thanks to the excellent legibility of its display, but the spectacular, skeletonized movement is worthy of deeper contemplation. The movement, built specifically for this TIME FLIES unique piece, allows the escapement, which regulates precision, to be displayed in the cockpit. The architecture of the 8-day movement, developed in-house by L’Epée 1839, follows the form of a real airplane. As in a plane, power comes from the front where the engine is located, and is generated by a fully openworked crown reminiscent of engine cooling radiators just behind the propeller. When fully wound, TIME FLIES can soar for a full eight days before “refueling.” An airplane’s control and instrumentation systems are located within the cockpit; and the same is true for TIME FLIES, which has a horizontal precision regulator in its cockpit, just above the wings. The constantly oscillating balance-wheel of the regulator draws the eye, and is protected from both cosmic radiation and curious fingers by a series of small panels forming the cockpit’s cage.
Generously donated by ECAL in collaboration with L'Epée, the timepiece is being sold to benefit the missions of Swiss Institute.
The buyer of this lot may be eligible to receive a charitable tax deduction for their purchase. Please see section 10 of this Auction’s Conditions of Sale.
A quick glance is enough to read the time thanks to the excellent legibility of its display, but the spectacular, skeletonized movement is worthy of deeper contemplation. The movement, built specifically for this TIME FLIES unique piece, allows the escapement, which regulates precision, to be displayed in the cockpit. The architecture of the 8-day movement, developed in-house by L’Epée 1839, follows the form of a real airplane. As in a plane, power comes from the front where the engine is located, and is generated by a fully openworked crown reminiscent of engine cooling radiators just behind the propeller. When fully wound, TIME FLIES can soar for a full eight days before “refueling.” An airplane’s control and instrumentation systems are located within the cockpit; and the same is true for TIME FLIES, which has a horizontal precision regulator in its cockpit, just above the wings. The constantly oscillating balance-wheel of the regulator draws the eye, and is protected from both cosmic radiation and curious fingers by a series of small panels forming the cockpit’s cage.
Generously donated by ECAL in collaboration with L'Epée, the timepiece is being sold to benefit the missions of Swiss Institute.
The buyer of this lot may be eligible to receive a charitable tax deduction for their purchase. Please see section 10 of this Auction’s Conditions of Sale.