Tall Case Clock
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Reverend Thomas Robbins
(American, 1777 - 1856)
ClockmakerWorks made by
Jacob Sargeant
(American, 1761 - 1843)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1814
MediumCase: Mahogany primary wood, pine secondary wood, with stamped and sheet brass.
Dial: Brass with white, gold, blue, and green paint.
Works: Cast brass and steel.
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 101 1/2 x 22 x 11 1/8in. (257.8 x 55.9 x 28.3cm)
ClassificationsClocks
Credit LineBequest of Reverend Thomas Robbins
Object number1856.1.5
DescriptionTall case clock in the Chippendale, or rococo, style, with a mahogany case, a fretwork pediment at the top of the arched hood, a brass clock movement, and a painted brass dial that has "JACOB SARGEANT" painted in black letters in the center. 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 (all separated from the clock) 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 sheet brass finials, each consisting of a slender cone atop a ball. Each finial sits at the top of a short plinth. Between the center plinth and each side plinth is an arched, pierced fretwork panel carved with C-scrolls and S-scrolls. The front of the hood has a glass door that is arched and recessed, with a small brass pull at the left side. The door is flanked by a fluted, free-standing column. Each column has a brass 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 quarter-circle, molding at the top and bottom; a tall door on the front; and fluted quarter columns at each front corner. The top edge of the door is shaped with an arched and undulating line and two short fillets, or straight sections. All four sides of the door are edged with ovolo, or thumbnail, molding. Each quarter column on the trunk has a brass capital and base. The rectangular base of the clock case has a narrow band of base molding, over ogee bracket feet that project beyond the front and sides of the base.
Construction Details: A single, vertically oriented backboard with an arched top flanked by a squared corner 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 is nailed or glued to this frame: the plinths, the fretwork, the projecting arched 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 brass capital above and brass 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 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 flanked by a thin strip of wood that is nailed to glue blocks on the interior 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 short blocks that are nailed at the top 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 above and below the door, and a vertical post at each front corner of the trunk that forms the carved quarter columns. 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 brass-lined keyhole in the center left side. The sides of the trunk extend down to the top of the base. The front and sides of the base are joined at the front corners with butt joints. The backboard is nailed into a rabbet in the back sides of the base. The bottom board of the base is dovetailed to the bottom edges of the sides of the base. The base rests on a three-sided frame that extends at the front and sides to form the base molding. Each ogee bracket foot is constructed of facing that is supported by a vertical glue block at the corner, and by a horizontal glue block behind each knee bracket return.
Dial: The brass dial is square with an arched top; it is painted white. The center of the dial arch is painted with a cluster of flowers in blue and green, surrounded by an oval wreath painted with gilt, dotted, and scrolled lines. The middle 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 a black painted arbor, or axle, around which the hour and minute hands pivot. This main arbor has "JACOB" painted to the left, and "SARGEANT" painted to the right. Just below each name is a winding arbor, to wind the clock. A seconds dial is painted in black above the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. A round calendar dial is painted in black below the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. Each corner of the dial plate has a triangular, scrolled gilt design. A cast iron false plate is located immediately behind the dial.
Clock Works
Movement: weight powered
Duration: eight day
Materials: brass and steel
Strike: rack and snail
Escapement: recoil
The works are accompanied a pendulum, two cylindrical cast iron weights, and two cylindrical tin weights.
Condition: The front of the trunk door has a long scratch that has been repaired. The interior back of the trunk is lined with mint green paper. The feet are repaired. The finish has been cleaned and touched up. The hardware is replaced. The paint on the dial is crazing and has accumulated dirt. The dial is missing some pins that would solidly join the dial to the works. The seat board has been cleaned. The weights and the pendulum are separated from the clock works.
NotesOwner Note: Reverend Thomas Robbins of East Windsor, Connecticut, was the first librarian of the Connecticut Historical Society.At the top of the arched hood are three sheet brass finials, each consisting of a slender cone atop a ball. Each finial sits at the top of a short plinth. Between the center plinth and each side plinth is an arched, pierced fretwork panel carved with C-scrolls and S-scrolls. The front of the hood has a glass door that is arched and recessed, with a small brass pull at the left side. The door is flanked by a fluted, free-standing column. Each column has a brass 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 quarter-circle, molding at the top and bottom; a tall door on the front; and fluted quarter columns at each front corner. The top edge of the door is shaped with an arched and undulating line and two short fillets, or straight sections. All four sides of the door are edged with ovolo, or thumbnail, molding. Each quarter column on the trunk has a brass capital and base. The rectangular base of the clock case has a narrow band of base molding, over ogee bracket feet that project beyond the front and sides of the base.
Construction Details: A single, vertically oriented backboard with an arched top flanked by a squared corner 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 is nailed or glued to this frame: the plinths, the fretwork, the projecting arched 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 brass capital above and brass 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 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 flanked by a thin strip of wood that is nailed to glue blocks on the interior 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 short blocks that are nailed at the top 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 above and below the door, and a vertical post at each front corner of the trunk that forms the carved quarter columns. 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 brass-lined keyhole in the center left side. The sides of the trunk extend down to the top of the base. The front and sides of the base are joined at the front corners with butt joints. The backboard is nailed into a rabbet in the back sides of the base. The bottom board of the base is dovetailed to the bottom edges of the sides of the base. The base rests on a three-sided frame that extends at the front and sides to form the base molding. Each ogee bracket foot is constructed of facing that is supported by a vertical glue block at the corner, and by a horizontal glue block behind each knee bracket return.
Dial: The brass dial is square with an arched top; it is painted white. The center of the dial arch is painted with a cluster of flowers in blue and green, surrounded by an oval wreath painted with gilt, dotted, and scrolled lines. The middle 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 a black painted arbor, or axle, around which the hour and minute hands pivot. This main arbor has "JACOB" painted to the left, and "SARGEANT" painted to the right. Just below each name is a winding arbor, to wind the clock. A seconds dial is painted in black above the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. A round calendar dial is painted in black below the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. Each corner of the dial plate has a triangular, scrolled gilt design. A cast iron false plate is located immediately behind the dial.
Clock Works
Movement: weight powered
Duration: eight day
Materials: brass and steel
Strike: rack and snail
Escapement: recoil
The works are accompanied a pendulum, two cylindrical cast iron weights, and two cylindrical tin weights.
Condition: The front of the trunk door has a long scratch that has been repaired. The interior back of the trunk is lined with mint green paper. The feet are repaired. The finish has been cleaned and touched up. The hardware is replaced. The paint on the dial is crazing and has accumulated dirt. The dial is missing some pins that would solidly join the dial to the works. The seat board has been cleaned. The weights and the pendulum are separated from the clock works.
Status
Not on view
