Tall Case Clock
ClockmakerWorks made by
Thomas Harland
(English, 1735 - 1807)
Furniture MakerCase made by
Unknown
Dateabout 1790
MediumCase: Birch primary wood.
Dial: Cast brass, paint.
Works: Cast brass and steel.
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 93 1/2 x 21 1/8 x 10 7/8in. (237.5 x 53.7 x 27.6cm)
ClassificationsClocks
Credit LineGift of Kenneth D. Roberts in memory of Richard Lyman, an original proprietor of Hartford, from a descendant
Object number1976.3.0
DescriptionTall case clock in the Chippendale, or rococo, style, with a birch case, a fretwork pediment at the top of the arched hood, a brass clock movement, and a brass dial engraved "Harland/ Norwich". 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 (separated from the clock) and weights (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 carved finials, each consisting of a short rope-twist atop a reel and a disc. Each finial sits at the top of a fluted plinth. Between the center plinth and each side plinth, a fretwork, or pierced, panel with flowers on a vine conforms to the arch at the top of the hood. The front of the hood has a glass door that is arched and recessed, with a brass escutcheon at the left side. The door is flanked by a fluted, free-standing column. Each side of the hood has a rectangular glass window with a rounded top. The trunk of the clock case has deep cove, or quarter-circle, molding at the top and bottom; a tall rectangular door with an arched top on the front; and fluted quarter columns at each front corner. The quarter columns do not extend the full height of the trunk. All four sides of the door are edged with ovolo, or thumbnail, molding. The rectangular base has two tiers of molding, each consisting of a fillet, or short flat section, over a projecting quarter circle, over a fillet. Below the molding, each foot has a straight edge at the corner and a knee bracket return shaped with a cyma curve and a reverse cyma curve.
Construction Details: A single vertically-oriented backboard with an arched top edge and 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 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 the three-part frame: the plinths, the fretwork, the arched projecting cove molding at the front, and the straight projecting cove molding at the sides. The sides of the hood attach to a horizontal, three-sided frame with projecting half-circle molding at the outside edges. Each free-standing column, with a capital above and a 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 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 the top edge of each side 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 with an arched lower edge above the door and a rail below the door. Each front corner of the trunk has a vertical post 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 pierced lock escutcheon (replaced) on the center left side. The sides of the trunk extend down to the top of the base. The base is constructed of one front board, two side boards, and the lower portion of the backboard; these are joined at each corner of the base with nailed butt joints. The bottom board is nailed to the underside of the sides of the base. The upper tier of base molding is nailed to the front and sides of the base. The lower tier of base molding is formed by the top edge of each of the boards that form the foot facing on the front and each side. Each foot is reinforced with a vertically-oriented, quarter-round glue block on the interior corner.
Dial: The engraved, brass dial is square with an arched top; the dial would have been silvered originally. The dial arch contains a moon dial painted with white, blue, black, and red. Above the arch is an engraved design of scrolled and undulating vines that extends down to the top corners of the square dial plate. The middle of the 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 intervals of five. In the center of the chapter ring is a projecting arbor, or axle, around which the hour and minute hands pivot. "Harland" is engraved to the left of the chapter ring, and "Norwich" is engraved to the right. To either side of the chapter ring is a winding arbor, to wind the clock. A round, recessed seconds dial is located above the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. A recessed, arched calendar dial is located below the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. Additional scroll and floral designs are engraved in the lower corners of the dial plate.
Clock Works
Movement: weight powered
Duration: eight day
Materials: cast brass, steel
Strike: rack and snail
Escapement: recoil
The works have bulbous pillars. The works are accompanied by a pendulum and two cylindrical cast iron weights.
Condition: The glue block for the back left foot has separated from the foot. The hardware on the door is replaced. The case is refinished. The silvering on the dial has worn off. The painted surfaces of the dial are crazing and flaking in some areas, especially on the moon dial. There is corrosion on the arched calendar dial. The hands on the dial may be replaced. The pendulum and weights are separated from the clock works.
At the top of the arched hood are three carved finials, each consisting of a short rope-twist atop a reel and a disc. Each finial sits at the top of a fluted plinth. Between the center plinth and each side plinth, a fretwork, or pierced, panel with flowers on a vine conforms to the arch at the top of the hood. The front of the hood has a glass door that is arched and recessed, with a brass escutcheon at the left side. The door is flanked by a fluted, free-standing column. Each side of the hood has a rectangular glass window with a rounded top. The trunk of the clock case has deep cove, or quarter-circle, molding at the top and bottom; a tall rectangular door with an arched top on the front; and fluted quarter columns at each front corner. The quarter columns do not extend the full height of the trunk. All four sides of the door are edged with ovolo, or thumbnail, molding. The rectangular base has two tiers of molding, each consisting of a fillet, or short flat section, over a projecting quarter circle, over a fillet. Below the molding, each foot has a straight edge at the corner and a knee bracket return shaped with a cyma curve and a reverse cyma curve.
Construction Details: A single vertically-oriented backboard with an arched top edge and 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 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 the three-part frame: the plinths, the fretwork, the arched projecting cove molding at the front, and the straight projecting cove molding at the sides. The sides of the hood attach to a horizontal, three-sided frame with projecting half-circle molding at the outside edges. Each free-standing column, with a capital above and a 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 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 the top edge of each side 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 with an arched lower edge above the door and a rail below the door. Each front corner of the trunk has a vertical post 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 pierced lock escutcheon (replaced) on the center left side. The sides of the trunk extend down to the top of the base. The base is constructed of one front board, two side boards, and the lower portion of the backboard; these are joined at each corner of the base with nailed butt joints. The bottom board is nailed to the underside of the sides of the base. The upper tier of base molding is nailed to the front and sides of the base. The lower tier of base molding is formed by the top edge of each of the boards that form the foot facing on the front and each side. Each foot is reinforced with a vertically-oriented, quarter-round glue block on the interior corner.
Dial: The engraved, brass dial is square with an arched top; the dial would have been silvered originally. The dial arch contains a moon dial painted with white, blue, black, and red. Above the arch is an engraved design of scrolled and undulating vines that extends down to the top corners of the square dial plate. The middle of the 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 intervals of five. In the center of the chapter ring is a projecting arbor, or axle, around which the hour and minute hands pivot. "Harland" is engraved to the left of the chapter ring, and "Norwich" is engraved to the right. To either side of the chapter ring is a winding arbor, to wind the clock. A round, recessed seconds dial is located above the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. A recessed, arched calendar dial is located below the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. Additional scroll and floral designs are engraved in the lower corners of the dial plate.
Clock Works
Movement: weight powered
Duration: eight day
Materials: cast brass, steel
Strike: rack and snail
Escapement: recoil
The works have bulbous pillars. The works are accompanied by a pendulum and two cylindrical cast iron weights.
Condition: The glue block for the back left foot has separated from the foot. The hardware on the door is replaced. The case is refinished. The silvering on the dial has worn off. The painted surfaces of the dial are crazing and flaking in some areas, especially on the moon dial. There is corrosion on the arched calendar dial. The hands on the dial may be replaced. The pendulum and weights are separated from the clock works.
Status
Not on view
