Jacquemart (bellstriker)

A jacquemart (sometimes spelled "Jaquemart") 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 at 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.