Tall Case Clock
ClockmakerWorks made by
Daniel Burnap
(American, 1759 - 1838)
Furniture MakerCase made by
Unknown
Date1805-1810
MediumCase: Cherry primary wood, pine secondary wood
Dial: Cast and engraved brass
Works: cast brass.
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 90 1/2 x 19 3/4 x 9 3/4in. (229.9 x 50.2 x 24.8cm)
ClassificationsClocks
Credit LineGift of Kenneth D. Roberts in memory of Richard Lyman, an original proprietor of Hartford, from a descendant
Object number1977.49.0
DescriptionTall case clock in the Federal, or early neoclassical, style, with a cherry case, a swan's neck pediment at the top of the hood, a brass clock movement, and a brass dial engraved "Daniel Burnap/ Andover". 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 works) 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 hood is a steep swan's neck pediment. Each upper end of the pediment molding terminates in a disc. In the center of the pediment, there is one turned finial, consisting of a slender cone atop a ball, that sits atop a plinth. The front of the hood has a glass door that is arched and recessed, with a small brass handle at the left side. The door is flanked by a plain, free-standing column. The trunk of the clock has deep cove, or quarter-circle, molding at the top and bottom, and a tall, rectangular door at the front. All four sides of the door have applied cock bead molding. The tall base has a shaped front skirt, consisting of a hanging half circle flanked by a fillet, or small flat section, a raised peak, and a deep cyma, or S-curve. The lower edge of each side skirt is shaped with a hanging half circle in the center. The boards that form the skirts terminate in straight, narrow feet.
Construction Details: A single, vertically-oriented backboard with an arched top edge and squared 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; the conforming roof, or bonnet top, is nailed down to the top of the arched panels. All ornament, including the swan's neck pediment and the projecting molding at the front and sides, is nailed or glued to the three-part frame. The sides of the hood rest on a horizontal, three-sided frame with recessed, quarter-round molding on the sides. 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 door is constructed of wooden rails that are tenoned at each corner; the rails form the frame that holds the window glass. The front of each rail is outlined with incised bead molding on the exterior edge and on the interior edge adjoining the window. The door pivots on a pair of brass hinges at the top right and bottom right corner.
The backboard is joined to the sides of the trunk with vertical, triangular glue blocks at the interior back corners of the case. The boards that form the sides of the trunk extend several inches above the bottom of the hood (these boards have probably been cut down). 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. The frame around the door of the trunk is joined at each corner with tenons; the frame is joined to the sides of the trunk with vertical, triangular glue blocks at the interior front corners of the case. 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 small brass pull on the left center side (the door does not open). The front and sides of the base are each joined with a miter joint at the front corners. The interior corners of the base are reinforced with vertical, triangular glue blocks. The front and sides of the base extend down to form the shaped skirt and the feet. The bottom of the clock case rests on horizontal, triangular glue blocks glued to the lower interior front and sides of the base.
Dial: The engraved, brass dial is square with an arched top; it would have been silvered originally. The center of the dial arch is engraved "Daniel Burnap/ Andover" inside an oval wreath. The wreath has flowers at the top, and is flanked by C-scrolls that extend 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 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 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.
Clock Works
Movement: weight powered
Duration: eight day
Materials: cast brass
Strike: English-style rack and snail
Escapement: recoil
The dial is screwed on. The pillars are bulbous. The works are accompanied by a pendulum shaft, a pendulum bob with brass facing, and two cylindrical tin weights.
Condition: The pediment has broken off and has been repaired. The top edge of each side of the trunk has probably been cut down. The case is refinished. The trunk door does not open. The works are not original to the clock case. The silvering has worn off the dial. The pendulum, pendulum bob, and weights are separated from the works.
At the top of the hood is a steep swan's neck pediment. Each upper end of the pediment molding terminates in a disc. In the center of the pediment, there is one turned finial, consisting of a slender cone atop a ball, that sits atop a plinth. The front of the hood has a glass door that is arched and recessed, with a small brass handle at the left side. The door is flanked by a plain, free-standing column. The trunk of the clock has deep cove, or quarter-circle, molding at the top and bottom, and a tall, rectangular door at the front. All four sides of the door have applied cock bead molding. The tall base has a shaped front skirt, consisting of a hanging half circle flanked by a fillet, or small flat section, a raised peak, and a deep cyma, or S-curve. The lower edge of each side skirt is shaped with a hanging half circle in the center. The boards that form the skirts terminate in straight, narrow feet.
Construction Details: A single, vertically-oriented backboard with an arched top edge and squared 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; the conforming roof, or bonnet top, is nailed down to the top of the arched panels. All ornament, including the swan's neck pediment and the projecting molding at the front and sides, is nailed or glued to the three-part frame. The sides of the hood rest on a horizontal, three-sided frame with recessed, quarter-round molding on the sides. 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 door is constructed of wooden rails that are tenoned at each corner; the rails form the frame that holds the window glass. The front of each rail is outlined with incised bead molding on the exterior edge and on the interior edge adjoining the window. The door pivots on a pair of brass hinges at the top right and bottom right corner.
The backboard is joined to the sides of the trunk with vertical, triangular glue blocks at the interior back corners of the case. The boards that form the sides of the trunk extend several inches above the bottom of the hood (these boards have probably been cut down). 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. The frame around the door of the trunk is joined at each corner with tenons; the frame is joined to the sides of the trunk with vertical, triangular glue blocks at the interior front corners of the case. 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 small brass pull on the left center side (the door does not open). The front and sides of the base are each joined with a miter joint at the front corners. The interior corners of the base are reinforced with vertical, triangular glue blocks. The front and sides of the base extend down to form the shaped skirt and the feet. The bottom of the clock case rests on horizontal, triangular glue blocks glued to the lower interior front and sides of the base.
Dial: The engraved, brass dial is square with an arched top; it would have been silvered originally. The center of the dial arch is engraved "Daniel Burnap/ Andover" inside an oval wreath. The wreath has flowers at the top, and is flanked by C-scrolls that extend 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 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 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.
Clock Works
Movement: weight powered
Duration: eight day
Materials: cast brass
Strike: English-style rack and snail
Escapement: recoil
The dial is screwed on. The pillars are bulbous. The works are accompanied by a pendulum shaft, a pendulum bob with brass facing, and two cylindrical tin weights.
Condition: The pediment has broken off and has been repaired. The top edge of each side of the trunk has probably been cut down. The case is refinished. The trunk door does not open. The works are not original to the clock case. The silvering has worn off the dial. The pendulum, pendulum bob, and weights are separated from the works.
Status
Not on view
