A French provincial longcase clock, from Normandy. The clock industry in this area was established in the 17th century. centres such as Pontfarcy were making 30-hour clocks with short pendulums, but in the course of the 18th century they began to be superceded by Comtoise clock movements, and the individuality of Normande clocks was expressed only in the diversity of case styles. Woods used for Normande cases were oak, chestnut, pine, cherry and occasionally walnut. Shapes were multifarious: some had trunks the same width as the hood, others had swelling enlargements to allow for the swing of the pendulum; there were curved forms, lyre shapes and waisted models. Dials maintained a regional character; some were made in Rouen faience (of which the whole hood might be made in rare instances). Pediments of stamped and pierced brass followed the Comtoise models. Areas within Normandy had their specialties. In Caen and Bayeux waisted cases known as demoiselles were popular. These occurred too in Avranches and Bressey, where violin-shaped cases were also favored.