Lewis Walduck
Cataloguer
Lot 42*
A fine and rare third quarter of the 17th century brass-mounted ebony 'Pendule Religieuse' Michel Barré, à Rennes No.52
2 July 2025, 13:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£5,000 - £8,000
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A fine and rare third quarter of the 17th century brass-mounted ebony 'Pendule Religieuse'
Michel Barré, à Rennes No.52
The rectangular case with twin suspension loops to the rear, the cast cresting hiding the bell behind, over a moulded cornice, shaped glazed side panels and a moulded plinth, the front door with applied pierced cast border with masks of green men in each corner, the rear door veneered front and back with ebony lines on a walnut ground. The 7.5 inch velvet-covered rectangular dial hinged on the left hand side and mounted to each corner with a foliate cast spandrel framing the elaborate hinged signature plaque (with pendulum slot behind). The 6.75 inch chapter ring with each minute hand engraved to the periphery enclosing the Roman hours, cruciform-shaped half-hour markers and inner quarter hour track, with good pierced fancy hands with inset steel tip to the minute hand. The small rectangular movement with gently arched top line and united by four vase shaped pillars pinned to the rear, both wheel trains wound via a single 'tandem winding' barrel, the going with verge escapement and short bob pendulum suspended within cycloidal cheeks set on an elaborate cock, the verge arbor set on another separate cock, the strike train with solid outside countwheel with each hour numbered and fancy steelwork, signed along the lower edge of the backplateMichel Barre a Renne 52. Sold together with a winding key and case key. Ticking and striking. 41cms (16.5ins) high.
The rectangular case with twin suspension loops to the rear, the cast cresting hiding the bell behind, over a moulded cornice, shaped glazed side panels and a moulded plinth, the front door with applied pierced cast border with masks of green men in each corner, the rear door veneered front and back with ebony lines on a walnut ground. The 7.5 inch velvet-covered rectangular dial hinged on the left hand side and mounted to each corner with a foliate cast spandrel framing the elaborate hinged signature plaque (with pendulum slot behind). The 6.75 inch chapter ring with each minute hand engraved to the periphery enclosing the Roman hours, cruciform-shaped half-hour markers and inner quarter hour track, with good pierced fancy hands with inset steel tip to the minute hand. The small rectangular movement with gently arched top line and united by four vase shaped pillars pinned to the rear, both wheel trains wound via a single 'tandem winding' barrel, the going with verge escapement and short bob pendulum suspended within cycloidal cheeks set on an elaborate cock, the verge arbor set on another separate cock, the strike train with solid outside countwheel with each hour numbered and fancy steelwork, signed along the lower edge of the backplateMichel Barre a Renne 52. Sold together with a winding key and case key. Ticking and striking. 41cms (16.5ins) high.
Footnotes
Little is known about the clockmaker Barre, who was recorded as working in Rennes in the second half of the 17th century. He is noted for numbering his clocks—a relatively uncommon practice for the period. Only a handful of his timepieces are known to survive today, but those that do indicate a careful and competent hand.
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