A fine and rare late 17th century French brass-inlaid ebony and tortoiseshell 'Pendule Religieuse' of two-week duration Pierre Le Maire, Paris The rectangular case (possibly from the Boulle workshop) with twin suspension eyes and bell mounted to the top, obscured by the shallow arch inlaid with flowing foliage between a pair of pedestals supporting swagged urns, the sides with tall narrow arched glazed panels, the solid rear door veneered to the inside in book-matched walnut, the front door lock opened with the winding key with an intricate inlaid border and finely moulded frame, on a moulded base, the 8 inch chapter ring with each minute hand engraved to the outer edge framing the Roman numerals, meeting arrow-head half-hour markers, and quarter hour band, set above the oval gilt brass signature cartouche supported by a pair of heralds, all on a black velvet background, the square brass 14-day movement united by five vase shaped pillars pinned through the backplate, the going train with verge escapement and short bob pendulum on silk between cycloidal cheeks, the strike train with solid outside numbered countwheel with delicate blued steel gate, sounding on the bell above via the vertical hammer with octagonal head. Ticking and striking, together with a winding key. 45cms (17.5ins) high Footnotes: While best known for the highly elaborate furniture supplied to the King and Court, Andre Charles Boulle was also known to supply numerous clock makers with the more 'standard' clock cases of the time - Reinier Plomp in 'Early French Pendulum Clocks 1658-1700' lists numerous makers known to have been clients of the Boulle workshop, including Louis Barroneau, Joseph Barroneau, Pierre du Chesne, Antoine Gaudron, Pierre Gaudron, Nicolas Gribelin, Mathieu Margeurite, Balthazar (II) Martinot, Giles (II) Martinot, Henry Martinot, and Isaac and Jacques Thuret. His workshop was centrally located and just as in other major cities of the time, artistic centres of interdependent trades soon evolved. Each craftsman relying on several neighbouring related trades such as case makers, gilders, bell founders, engravers etc. Pierre Le Maire worked in St Germain, Paris circa 1675 along with his son Jean. His clockmaking neighbours included Pierre de Baufre, Isaac-Paul Du Hamel, Jacques Gosselin, Nicolas Hanet and Nicolas Gribelin (a known Boulle client). A minor quirk of his workshop was to use the movement winding key as the case door key. The Le Maires were Protestants and following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, he and his son were imprisoned in St Germain Abbey. Their workshop material was sold in 1687, after which it is thought they settled in Amsterdam. Literature: Reinier Plomp 'Early French Pendulum Clocks 1658-1700' page 69, figures 119 and 120. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the EU, see clause 13. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com