Tall Case Clock
ClockmakerClock works made by
Simeon Jocelin
(1746 - 1823)
Furniture MakerClock case possibly made by
Samuel Haughton
(American, 1760 - 1812)
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Moses Lyman
(American)
Dateabout 1820
MediumCase: Mahogany and mahogany veneer, brass, silk.
Dial: Brass.
Works: Cast brass and iron.
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 96 1/2 x 19 5/8 x 10 1/8in. (245.1 x 49.8 x 25.7cm)
ClassificationsClocks
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Florence Van Fleet Lyman
Object number1939.2.1
DescriptionTall case clock in the Federal, or early neoclassical, style, with a mahogany veneer case, a fretwork pediment at the top of the arched hood, a brass clock movement, and a brass dial that has "Simeon Jocelin/ NEW HAVEN" painted in black letters below the calendar dial. The tall case clock consists of three major components: the removable hood, the removable dial and clock works, and the clock case. The dial and works sit on a horizontal board at the top of the clock case; the pendulum and weights (now missing) that drive the works would be suspended in the trunk, or narrow body, of the case. The hood slides over the works and sits at the top of the case.
At the top of the arched hood are three brass finials, each consisting of a slender cone with two rings atop a ball. Each finial sits at the top of a veneered plinth. Between the center plinth and each side plinth is a fretwork panel, pierced to reveal curving and scrolled lines. The front of the hood has a glass door that is arched and recessed, with a small brass knob at the left side. The door frame is veneered. The door is flanked by a plain, free-standing column. Each side of the hood has a projecting, rectangular, fretwork panel with an arched top edge; the fretwork consists of a series of curving, intersecting lines. Each panel is applied over an opening in the side of the hood that is lined with yellow silk. The trunk of the clock case has deep cove, or recessed quarter-circle, molding at the top and bottom; a tall rectangular door on the front; and fluted quarter columns at each front corner. The top edge of the door is arched, and the front of the door is veneered with figured mahogany. There is a keyhole at the center left side of the door. The front and sides of the base of the clock each have a skirt that curves down in the center; the boards that form the skirts terminate in narrow, flared feet. The front of the base is veneered with figured mahogany; it has a narrow horizontal band of light wood veneer just above the skirt.
Construction Details: A single, vertically-oriented backboard with an arched top edge extends the full height of the hood and case. The hood does not have a back; it slides over the clock works to rest on the cove molding at the top of the trunk. The hood is constructed of a three-part frame: an arched top and two sides. The arched top consists of an arched panel of wood at the front and back; a conforming roof, or bonnet top, is nailed down to the top of the arched panels. All ornament is nailed or glued to this frame: the veneered plinths, the fretwork, the projecting arched molding at the front, and the projecting straight molding at the sides. Each fretwork panel is supported at the back lower edge by a row of small glue blocks. An opening is cut in each side of the hood, and the fretwork and yellow silk lining are joined to the outside of the opening. The sides of the hood rest on a horizontal, three-sided frame with molding at the outside edges. Each column, with the capital above and the base below, is carved from a solid piece of wood. Each column extends between the projecting molding at the top of the hood and the horizontal, three-sided frame at the bottom. The arched door is constructed of wooden rails that are tenoned and pinned at each corner; the front of the door frame is veneered. The door pivots on a pair of brass hinges (replaced) at the top right and bottom right corner.
The backboard is joined with a nailed butt joint to the back corner of the sides of the trunk; the butt joint is glued, then nails are inserted through the exterior sides of the trunk. The boards that form the sides of the trunk extend several inches above the bottom of the hood. The clock works rest on a seat board, or horizontal board immediately behind the dial. The seat board rests on wooden blocks that are nailed to the top edges of the sides of the trunk. The cove molding is nailed to the front and sides of the top and bottom of the trunk. There is a rail above and below the door, and a vertical post at each front corner that forms the carved quarter columns. The quarter columns at each front corner are joined to the sides of the trunk with a double row of vertically-oriented glue blocks at each interior front corner. The door is constructed of a single board that is joined to the trunk with two brass hinges (replaced) at the right side; there is a small keyhole in the center left side of the door. The sides of the trunk extend down to the top of the base. The base is constructed of a front and two side boards; these boards extend down to form the front and side skirts, as well as the foot facing. The bottom board of the base is supported by horizontal glue blocks at the interior lower edges of the base. Each foot is supported by a vertically-oriented glue block.
Dial: The brass dial is square with an arched top; it is painted white. The center of the dial arch is painted with a gilded, hanging basket flanked by scrolled, gilded lines and a pink, red, and green painted spray of flowers. The center of the square dial plate has a black painted chapter ring, consisting of a ring of Roman numerals, inside a ring of minute gradations, inside a ring of Arabic numbers from one to sixty in increments of five. In the center of the chapter ring is an arbor, or axle, around which the hour and minute hands pivot. To either side of the main arbor is a winding arbor, to wind the clock. A seconds dial is painted above the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. A calendar dial is located below the main arbor, consisting of an arched opening revealing a plate that pivots to indicate the date. Painted in black below the calendar dial is "Simeon Jocelin/ NEW HAVEN". An additional gilded design of a central urn-shaped motif flanked by scrolled lines is painted on each corner of the dial plate. There is no false plate behind the dial.
Clock Works
Movement: weight driven
Duration: eight day
Materials: brass
Strike: Germanic-style rack and snail
Escapement: recoil
The barrels in the clock works are grooved. Brass cable has been added to run the works.
Condition: The painted maker's name on the dial is faded. The pendulum and cylindrical weights are missing. The hinges on the trunk door are replaced.
At the top of the arched hood are three brass finials, each consisting of a slender cone with two rings atop a ball. Each finial sits at the top of a veneered plinth. Between the center plinth and each side plinth is a fretwork panel, pierced to reveal curving and scrolled lines. The front of the hood has a glass door that is arched and recessed, with a small brass knob at the left side. The door frame is veneered. The door is flanked by a plain, free-standing column. Each side of the hood has a projecting, rectangular, fretwork panel with an arched top edge; the fretwork consists of a series of curving, intersecting lines. Each panel is applied over an opening in the side of the hood that is lined with yellow silk. The trunk of the clock case has deep cove, or recessed quarter-circle, molding at the top and bottom; a tall rectangular door on the front; and fluted quarter columns at each front corner. The top edge of the door is arched, and the front of the door is veneered with figured mahogany. There is a keyhole at the center left side of the door. The front and sides of the base of the clock each have a skirt that curves down in the center; the boards that form the skirts terminate in narrow, flared feet. The front of the base is veneered with figured mahogany; it has a narrow horizontal band of light wood veneer just above the skirt.
Construction Details: A single, vertically-oriented backboard with an arched top edge extends the full height of the hood and case. The hood does not have a back; it slides over the clock works to rest on the cove molding at the top of the trunk. The hood is constructed of a three-part frame: an arched top and two sides. The arched top consists of an arched panel of wood at the front and back; a conforming roof, or bonnet top, is nailed down to the top of the arched panels. All ornament is nailed or glued to this frame: the veneered plinths, the fretwork, the projecting arched molding at the front, and the projecting straight molding at the sides. Each fretwork panel is supported at the back lower edge by a row of small glue blocks. An opening is cut in each side of the hood, and the fretwork and yellow silk lining are joined to the outside of the opening. The sides of the hood rest on a horizontal, three-sided frame with molding at the outside edges. Each column, with the capital above and the base below, is carved from a solid piece of wood. Each column extends between the projecting molding at the top of the hood and the horizontal, three-sided frame at the bottom. The arched door is constructed of wooden rails that are tenoned and pinned at each corner; the front of the door frame is veneered. The door pivots on a pair of brass hinges (replaced) at the top right and bottom right corner.
The backboard is joined with a nailed butt joint to the back corner of the sides of the trunk; the butt joint is glued, then nails are inserted through the exterior sides of the trunk. The boards that form the sides of the trunk extend several inches above the bottom of the hood. The clock works rest on a seat board, or horizontal board immediately behind the dial. The seat board rests on wooden blocks that are nailed to the top edges of the sides of the trunk. The cove molding is nailed to the front and sides of the top and bottom of the trunk. There is a rail above and below the door, and a vertical post at each front corner that forms the carved quarter columns. The quarter columns at each front corner are joined to the sides of the trunk with a double row of vertically-oriented glue blocks at each interior front corner. The door is constructed of a single board that is joined to the trunk with two brass hinges (replaced) at the right side; there is a small keyhole in the center left side of the door. The sides of the trunk extend down to the top of the base. The base is constructed of a front and two side boards; these boards extend down to form the front and side skirts, as well as the foot facing. The bottom board of the base is supported by horizontal glue blocks at the interior lower edges of the base. Each foot is supported by a vertically-oriented glue block.
Dial: The brass dial is square with an arched top; it is painted white. The center of the dial arch is painted with a gilded, hanging basket flanked by scrolled, gilded lines and a pink, red, and green painted spray of flowers. The center of the square dial plate has a black painted chapter ring, consisting of a ring of Roman numerals, inside a ring of minute gradations, inside a ring of Arabic numbers from one to sixty in increments of five. In the center of the chapter ring is an arbor, or axle, around which the hour and minute hands pivot. To either side of the main arbor is a winding arbor, to wind the clock. A seconds dial is painted above the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. A calendar dial is located below the main arbor, consisting of an arched opening revealing a plate that pivots to indicate the date. Painted in black below the calendar dial is "Simeon Jocelin/ NEW HAVEN". An additional gilded design of a central urn-shaped motif flanked by scrolled lines is painted on each corner of the dial plate. There is no false plate behind the dial.
Clock Works
Movement: weight driven
Duration: eight day
Materials: brass
Strike: Germanic-style rack and snail
Escapement: recoil
The barrels in the clock works are grooved. Brass cable has been added to run the works.
Condition: The painted maker's name on the dial is faded. The pendulum and cylindrical weights are missing. The hinges on the trunk door are replaced.
Status
Not on view
