Tall Case Clock
ClockmakerWorks made by
Eli Terry
(American, 1772 - 1852)
Furniture MakerCase made by
Unknown
Date1795-1800
MediumCase: Cherry primary wood, pine secondary wood.
Dial: Painted brass.
Works: Wood.
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 92 1/4 x 19 1/2 x 10 1/2in. (234.3 x 49.5 x 26.7cm)
ClassificationsClocks
Credit LineGift of Frederick K. and Margaret R. Barbour
Object number1969.44.1
DescriptionTall case clock in the Chippendale, or rococo, style, with a cherry case, fretwork and a pagoda pediment at the top of the arched hood, a wooden clock movement, and a painted brass dial that is engraved "E. Terry/ PLYMOUTH". 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 that drive the works are 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 finials, each consisting of a slender cone with two rings atop an urn. Each finial sits at the top of a fluted plinth. Between the center plinth and each side plinth is a sloping panel of wood; a fretwork, or pierced, panel at the top of each of these panels is in the shape of a heart and small scrolls. 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 is flanked by a fluted, free-standing column. Each column has a gilded capital and base. Each side of the hood has a rectangular glass window with a rounded top. 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. All four sides of the door are edged with ovolo, or thumbnail, molding. Each quarter column has a gilded capital and base. The rectangular base of the clock case has cyma, or S-curve, base molding and ogee bracket feet that project beyond the front and sides of the base.
Construction Details: A single, vertically-oriented backboard with squared top corners 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, with a top and two sides that are joined with a nailed butt joint at the top corners. All ornament is nailed or glued to this frame: the plinths, the fretwork and solid panels, the arched projecting molding at the front, and the projecting molding at the sides. The sides of the hood attach to a horizontal, three-sided frame with ovolo molding at the outside edges. Each free-standing column, with a block above and 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 door is constructed of wooden rails that are tenoned and pinned at each corner. The door pivots on a pair of brass hinges at the top right and bottom right corner.
The backboard is nailed into a rabbet on each back corner of the 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 two vertically-oriented boards (later additions) that are screwed to the interior 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 of the trunk that forms the carved quarter column. The door is constructed of a single board that is joined to the trunk with two brass hinges at the right side; there is a keyhole in the center left side (the locking mechanism is replaced). The sides of the trunk extend down to the top of the base. At the back, the sides rest on top of a thick board that extends the width and height of the base; this board is nailed to the interior of the backboard. The front and sides of the base are each joined with a miter joint at the front corners. The bottom board of the base is nailed to the underside of the base sides. The base molding is nailed to the front and sides of the base. Each ogee bracket foot is constructed of facing that is supported by a vertical, triangular glue block at the corner, and by a horizontal, semi-circular quadrant that is nailed to the underside of the base.
Dial: The engraved, brass dial is square with an arched top; it is painted white (it would have been silvered originally). The center of the dial arch is engraved "E. Terry/ PLYMOUTH" inside a round wreath. The wreath is flanked by leaf, floral, and scrolled designs that extend down to the top corners of the dial plate. The middle of the square dial plate is engraved with a 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 (minute hand is replaced). To either side of the main arbor is a winding arbor, to wind the clock. A seconds dial is engraved above the main arbor, with a hand (replaced) pivoting around the center. A round calendar dial is engraved below the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. Additional scroll and floral designs are engraved on the lower corners of the dial plate.
Clock Works
Movement: weight powered
Duration: eight day
Materials: wood; quarter sawn oak plates, cherry wheels, cherry arbors
Strike: count wheel
Escapement: recoil
The count wheel is replaced, but the original is beneath it. The works are accompanied by a pendulum and two cylindrical tin weights.
Condition: The front top of the pediment has broken off and has been reattached or possibly replaced. The finials are replaced. The top edges of the sides of the trunk have been cut down or reshaped. Additional wooden supports for the seat board are screwed into the top interior sides of the case. There are two later holes punched through the backboard at the upper trunk. The front and sides of the base are separating at the mitre joints. The rail at the top of the door has been repaired. The hardware and locking mechanism on the door are replaced. The dial is repainted; it would have been silvered originally. The minute hand and second hand are replaced. The count wheel is replaced. The clock works are not original to the case. At one time, the works were altered for electric power. The weights and pendulum are separated from the clock works; the pendulum bob is very rusty.
At the top of the arched hood are three finials, each consisting of a slender cone with two rings atop an urn. Each finial sits at the top of a fluted plinth. Between the center plinth and each side plinth is a sloping panel of wood; a fretwork, or pierced, panel at the top of each of these panels is in the shape of a heart and small scrolls. 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 is flanked by a fluted, free-standing column. Each column has a gilded capital and base. Each side of the hood has a rectangular glass window with a rounded top. 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. All four sides of the door are edged with ovolo, or thumbnail, molding. Each quarter column has a gilded capital and base. The rectangular base of the clock case has cyma, or S-curve, base molding and ogee bracket feet that project beyond the front and sides of the base.
Construction Details: A single, vertically-oriented backboard with squared top corners 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, with a top and two sides that are joined with a nailed butt joint at the top corners. All ornament is nailed or glued to this frame: the plinths, the fretwork and solid panels, the arched projecting molding at the front, and the projecting molding at the sides. The sides of the hood attach to a horizontal, three-sided frame with ovolo molding at the outside edges. Each free-standing column, with a block above and 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 door is constructed of wooden rails that are tenoned and pinned at each corner. The door pivots on a pair of brass hinges at the top right and bottom right corner.
The backboard is nailed into a rabbet on each back corner of the 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 two vertically-oriented boards (later additions) that are screwed to the interior 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 of the trunk that forms the carved quarter column. The door is constructed of a single board that is joined to the trunk with two brass hinges at the right side; there is a keyhole in the center left side (the locking mechanism is replaced). The sides of the trunk extend down to the top of the base. At the back, the sides rest on top of a thick board that extends the width and height of the base; this board is nailed to the interior of the backboard. The front and sides of the base are each joined with a miter joint at the front corners. The bottom board of the base is nailed to the underside of the base sides. The base molding is nailed to the front and sides of the base. Each ogee bracket foot is constructed of facing that is supported by a vertical, triangular glue block at the corner, and by a horizontal, semi-circular quadrant that is nailed to the underside of the base.
Dial: The engraved, brass dial is square with an arched top; it is painted white (it would have been silvered originally). The center of the dial arch is engraved "E. Terry/ PLYMOUTH" inside a round wreath. The wreath is flanked by leaf, floral, and scrolled designs that extend down to the top corners of the dial plate. The middle of the square dial plate is engraved with a 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 (minute hand is replaced). To either side of the main arbor is a winding arbor, to wind the clock. A seconds dial is engraved above the main arbor, with a hand (replaced) pivoting around the center. A round calendar dial is engraved below the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. Additional scroll and floral designs are engraved on the lower corners of the dial plate.
Clock Works
Movement: weight powered
Duration: eight day
Materials: wood; quarter sawn oak plates, cherry wheels, cherry arbors
Strike: count wheel
Escapement: recoil
The count wheel is replaced, but the original is beneath it. The works are accompanied by a pendulum and two cylindrical tin weights.
Condition: The front top of the pediment has broken off and has been reattached or possibly replaced. The finials are replaced. The top edges of the sides of the trunk have been cut down or reshaped. Additional wooden supports for the seat board are screwed into the top interior sides of the case. There are two later holes punched through the backboard at the upper trunk. The front and sides of the base are separating at the mitre joints. The rail at the top of the door has been repaired. The hardware and locking mechanism on the door are replaced. The dial is repainted; it would have been silvered originally. The minute hand and second hand are replaced. The count wheel is replaced. The clock works are not original to the case. At one time, the works were altered for electric power. The weights and pendulum are separated from the clock works; the pendulum bob is very rusty.
Status
Not on view
