Jacques Le Camus Pendule Religieuse
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
late 17th century
This late 17th-century pendule religieuse is attributed to the Parisian horologist Jacques Le Camus. The clock features a rectangular case veneered in ebony, incorporating a moulded cornice and plinth, with glazed side panels and twin suspension loops to the rear.
The rear door is lined with walnut and ebony veneer. The 7.5-inch rectangular dial is velvet-covered and features foliate cast spandrels at each corner. The central chapter ring is 7 inches in diameter, displaying Roman hour numerals, cruciform half-hour markers, and an inner quarter-hour track, paired with pierced hands. The movement is constructed with four vase-shaped pillars, a 'tandem winding' barrel for both trains, a verge escapement with cycloidal cheeks, and a solid outside countwheel for the strike train.
The clock is signed by Jacques Le Camus along the lower edge of the plates and includes a separate cast brass top mount.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- late 17th century
- Type
- Pendule Religieuse
- Maker
- Jacques Le Camus
- Dimensions
- 31 cm high
- Strike train
- Solid outside countwheel
- Movement type
- Verge escapement with cycloidal cheeks
- Case materials
- Ebony veneer on a walnut ground
- Place recorded
- Paris, France
- Winding system
- Tandem winding
- Maker / attribution
- Jacques Le Camus
Design
- Visible features
- • Large foliate cast brass ornament mounted to the top of the case. • Brass corner spandrels featuring foliate motifs. • Engraved Roman numerals on the chapter ring with an inner minute track. • Pierced fancy metal clock hands.
- Movement and Escapement
- The rectangular movement is held together by four vase-shaped pillars pinned to the back plate. It employs a 'tandem winding' system where both the going and strike trains are operated from a single barrel. The going train features a verge escapement with cycloidal cheeks mounted upon a decorated cock, with the verge arbor on a separate cock. The strike train is governed by a solid outside countwheel with numbered hours. The movement plates are signed by the maker along the lower edge. The auction description reports that the movement remains in an unrestored state, showing tarnished plates but appearing complete and untouched.
- Dial and Timekeeping Display
- The 7.5-inch rectangular dial is currently dressed with a velvet backing. It is hinged on the left side and framed by foliate cast brass spandrels at each corner. An elaborate hinged signature plaque is centrally mounted between the spandrels, concealing a pendulum slot. The 7-inch diameter chapter ring features Roman numerals for hours and cruciform markings for half-hours. The outer edge contains an engraved minute track, which is read using a set of pierced fancy hands. The chapter ring shows evidence of historical wax filling repairs.
- Case Construction and Appearance
- The rectangular clock case is veneered in ebony and incorporates a moulded cornice and plinth. The rear door displays construction using both ebony lines and a walnut ground. The assembly includes glazed panels to the sides to allow visual access to the movement components. The top edge is designed to receive a separately provided cast brass mount. The auction description reports that the case has undergone restoration and exhibits structural cracks consistent with age, specifically a vertical crack on the right side. The front door contains unused mounting holes indicating past hardware modifications. The original crisp definition of the case joints has softened over time due to natural material expansion and contraction.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The auction description suggests the velvet dial backing is a later replacement.
- Research required: The auction description reports the top of the case might have been replaced or reworked.
- Research required: The exact extent of historical case restoration is not fully documented.