A jacquemart (sometimes jaquemart and also called a quarter-jack) is an automaton, an animated, mechanised figure of a person, usually made from wood or metal, which strikes the hours on a bell with a hammer. Jacquemarts are usually part of clocks or clocktowers, and are often near or at the top of the construction. The figurine is also known as Jack of the Clock or Jack o'Clock.
One of the oldest and best-known jacquemarts is found on the south tower of the cathedral Church of Notre Dame of Dijon: it was installed by Philippe II of Burgundy in 1383. Other well-known historic jacquemarts are found on top of the Zytglogge tower in Bern, Switzerland and the Moors on the Torre dell'Orlogio di San Marco in Venice, Italy.
The word is originally French but is sometimes used in English as well. The origin of the word is disputed, but one theory relates it to a tool called a 'jacke', used by the craftsmen building church towers, the steeplejacks.
In the South-West, the only existing one is that of Lavaur, located at the top of the bell tower of the Saint-Alain cathedral. Legend has it that during the wars of religion a Protestant prisoner was locked up in the bell tower and had to ring the bells every hour. He built a mechanism to do it for him.
Notable jacquemart figures
- Wimborne Minster Astronomical Clock, Dorset
- Norwich Cathedral astronomical clock, Norfolk
- The Potts of Leeds Ivanhoe Clock figures of 1878 by John Wormald Appleyard in Thornton's Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.
- The coolie at Lau Pa Sat, Singapore
See also
- Automaton clock
References
- Marti, Markus (2005). 600 Jahre Zytglogge Bern - Eine kleine Chronik der Zeitmessung. Bern: Staempfli. p. 48. 3-7272-1180-6.
- "Lavaur, cité d'histoire". tourisme-tarnagout.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2021..
- Historic England. "Thornton's Arcade (1255837)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
External links
Media related to Jacquemarts at Wikimedia Commons
A jacquemart sometimes jaquemart and also called a quarter jack is an automaton an animated mechanised figure of a person usually made from wood or metal which strikes the hours on a bell with a hammer Jacquemarts are usually part of clocks or clocktowers and are often near or at the top of the construction The figurine is also known as Jack of the Clock or Jack o Clock Jacquemart of the Collegiate Church of Saint Pierre in Leuven BelgiumThe Benfeld France jacquemart One of the oldest and best known jacquemarts is found on the south tower of the cathedral Church of Notre Dame of Dijon it was installed by Philippe II of Burgundy in 1383 Other well known historic jacquemarts are found on top of the Zytglogge tower in Bern Switzerland and the Moors on the Torre dell Orlogio di San Marco in Venice Italy The word is originally French but is sometimes used in English as well The origin of the word is disputed but one theory relates it to a tool called a jacke used by the craftsmen building church towers the steeplejacks In the South West the only existing one is that of Lavaur located at the top of the bell tower of the Saint Alain cathedral Legend has it that during the wars of religion a Protestant prisoner was locked up in the bell tower and had to ring the bells every hour He built a mechanism to do it for him Notable jacquemart figuresWimborne Minster Astronomical Clock Dorset Norwich Cathedral astronomical clock Norfolk The Potts of Leeds Ivanhoe Clock figures of 1878 by John Wormald Appleyard in Thornton s Arcade Leeds West Yorkshire England The coolie at Lau Pa Sat SingaporeSee alsoAutomaton clockReferencesMarti Markus 2005 600 Jahre Zytglogge Bern Eine kleine Chronik der Zeitmessung Bern Staempfli p 48 3 7272 1180 6 Lavaur cite d histoire tourisme tarnagout com Archived from the original on 24 March 2023 Retrieved 19 April 2021 Historic England Thornton s Arcade 1255837 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 28 February 2019 External linksMedia related to Jacquemarts at Wikimedia Commons
