Tall Case Clock
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
William Francis Joseph Boardman
(American, 1828 - 1912)
Furniture MakerCase made by
Unknown
ClockmakerClock works made by
Unknown
Date1911
MediumCase: Oak and oak veneers, light and dark wood veneers.
Dial: Brass and steel, paint.
Works: Brass and steel.
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 94 1/2 x 21 1/4 x 11 1/8in. (240 x 54 x 28.3cm)
ClassificationsClocks
Credit LineBequest of William C. Boardman
Object number1999.115.1
DescriptionTall case clock in the Chippendale, or rococo, style, with an oak veneer case, a swan's neck pediment with a finial in the shape of a carved oak tree, and a brass and steel clock movement and 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 (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 swan's neck pediment are three finials. The center finial consists of an elaborately carved oak tree that sits on a plinth with projecting molding at the front. Each side finial is carved in the shape of an acorn over a cluster of leaves in the shape of an urn; each side finial sits at the top of a fluted plinth. Each upper end of the pediment molding terminates in a rosette carved with an acorn surrounded by leaves. The molding at the front and sides of the pediment is ornamented with dentils. Below the molding, the front of the pediment has a dark wood veneer. The front of the hood has a glass door that is arched and recessed, with a small keyhole at the left side. The front of the door frame is veneered. The door is flanked by a stop-fluted, free-standing column with a carved Corinthian capital. A four-pointed star is veneered above each column. Each side of the hood consists of a solid board outlined with a thin band of veneer. Each back corner of the hood has a stop-fluted half column with a carved Corinthian capital. The trunk of the clock case has deep cove, or recessed-quarter circle, molding at the top and bottom; a tall, rectangular door with a shaped top edge at the front; and a stop-fluted, free-standing column at each front corner. Below the cove molding at the top of the trunk is a band of leaves veneered in dark wood. The top of the trunk door is shaped with a cyma curve, a reverse cyma curve, a fillet, or flat section, and cove molding. The front of the trunk and door are veneered with contrasting shades of wood. The top front of the door has a coat-of-arms or crest inlayed in light and dark wood. The coat-of-arms consists of an eagle with outstretched wings, over a helmet, over a shield-shaped heraldic device. The shield has a diagonal band of dark wood veneer that contains three pig's or boar's heads veneered in light wood. The coat-of-arms is flanked by leaves and scrolls. Underneath the coat-of-arms is a banner with the word "Mortiter" over the name "Boreman". The base of the clock case has a stop-fluted quarter column at each front corner, over base molding and ogee bracket feet that project beyond the front and sides of the base. The front of the base is veneered in the center with the Connecticut state seal: a shield containing three grape vines, over a banner containing the phrase "QUI TRANSTULIT SUSTINET".
Construction Details: A backboard with an arched top extends the full height of the hood and case; the backboard is constructed of two vertically-oriented boards that are joined with four butterfly dovetails. 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 top of the hood consists of an arched panel of wood that extends the depth of the hood behind the pediment; this is nailed down to a vertical panel of wood that extends between each side of the hood. Each side of the hood is constructed of two parts: a veneered panel of wood at the top exterior is screwed from the inside to a second panel of wood that forms the recessed lower side. All ornament is screwed or glued to the three-part frame: the pediment, the molding that conforms to the shape of the pediment and hood, and the projecting half columns. The sides of the hood attach to a horizontal, three-sided frame with molding at the outside edges. Each free-standing 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 joined at each corner with a lap joint. The door pivots on a pair of brass hinges at the top right and bottom right corner. There is a keyhole in the center left side of the hood door. The interior front edge of the hood has a rotating latch that holds the hood in place when it is on the case.
The backboard is screwed into a rabbet on each back corner of the sides of the trunk. The boards that form the sides of the trunk extend to the height of the cove molding. A pair of blocks are screwed in place at the top of each side of the trunk (the topmost block is a later addition). The clock works rest on a seat board, or horizontal board immediately behind the dial. The seat board rests on the block that is joined to 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 front of the trunk is constructed of a rail above the door, and a vertical post at each side. Each post and side of the trunk are joined with a vertical support screwed to the interior front edge of the trunk. Each column fits into the ninety-degree opening where the front and side of the trunk are joined. 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 sides of the trunk extend down to the top of the base. The front and sides of the base are each joined to the post that forms the quarter-column at each front corner. The base molding is nailed to the front and sides of the base. The bottom of the case is constructed of a four-sided frame; the bottom board is nailed to the underside of this frame. Each ogee bracket foot is constructed of facing that is glued or nailed to the underside of the base molding. The interior of the case is varnished.
Dial: The brass and steel dial is square with an arched top. The center of the dial arch has a recessed moon dial painted with a seascape containing a sailboat in blues, greens, and brown; this scene is located behind two half circles on the dial arch that are engraved with the globe. Above the moon dial are Arabic numbers from one to twenty-nine in increments of five, with the last increment shortened to accommodate the lunar calendar. The middle of the square dial plate has a steel chapter ring, consisting of a ring of applied brass Arabic numerals from one to twelve, each inside an engraved circle. 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, steel seconds dial is applied above the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. A round, steel calendar dial is applied below the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. The center and each corner of the dial plate have applied spandrels, or elaborately engraved, pierced panels.
The clock works (original) are accompanied by a pendulum, a chime (a long, metal tube) and two cylindrical weights.
Condition: Some veneer has broken off the interior of the hood door. Veneer has been re-glued to the front of the base. The feet are well worn and scratched. The pendulum, weights, and chime are separated from the clock works.
At the top of the swan's neck pediment are three finials. The center finial consists of an elaborately carved oak tree that sits on a plinth with projecting molding at the front. Each side finial is carved in the shape of an acorn over a cluster of leaves in the shape of an urn; each side finial sits at the top of a fluted plinth. Each upper end of the pediment molding terminates in a rosette carved with an acorn surrounded by leaves. The molding at the front and sides of the pediment is ornamented with dentils. Below the molding, the front of the pediment has a dark wood veneer. The front of the hood has a glass door that is arched and recessed, with a small keyhole at the left side. The front of the door frame is veneered. The door is flanked by a stop-fluted, free-standing column with a carved Corinthian capital. A four-pointed star is veneered above each column. Each side of the hood consists of a solid board outlined with a thin band of veneer. Each back corner of the hood has a stop-fluted half column with a carved Corinthian capital. The trunk of the clock case has deep cove, or recessed-quarter circle, molding at the top and bottom; a tall, rectangular door with a shaped top edge at the front; and a stop-fluted, free-standing column at each front corner. Below the cove molding at the top of the trunk is a band of leaves veneered in dark wood. The top of the trunk door is shaped with a cyma curve, a reverse cyma curve, a fillet, or flat section, and cove molding. The front of the trunk and door are veneered with contrasting shades of wood. The top front of the door has a coat-of-arms or crest inlayed in light and dark wood. The coat-of-arms consists of an eagle with outstretched wings, over a helmet, over a shield-shaped heraldic device. The shield has a diagonal band of dark wood veneer that contains three pig's or boar's heads veneered in light wood. The coat-of-arms is flanked by leaves and scrolls. Underneath the coat-of-arms is a banner with the word "Mortiter" over the name "Boreman". The base of the clock case has a stop-fluted quarter column at each front corner, over base molding and ogee bracket feet that project beyond the front and sides of the base. The front of the base is veneered in the center with the Connecticut state seal: a shield containing three grape vines, over a banner containing the phrase "QUI TRANSTULIT SUSTINET".
Construction Details: A backboard with an arched top extends the full height of the hood and case; the backboard is constructed of two vertically-oriented boards that are joined with four butterfly dovetails. 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 top of the hood consists of an arched panel of wood that extends the depth of the hood behind the pediment; this is nailed down to a vertical panel of wood that extends between each side of the hood. Each side of the hood is constructed of two parts: a veneered panel of wood at the top exterior is screwed from the inside to a second panel of wood that forms the recessed lower side. All ornament is screwed or glued to the three-part frame: the pediment, the molding that conforms to the shape of the pediment and hood, and the projecting half columns. The sides of the hood attach to a horizontal, three-sided frame with molding at the outside edges. Each free-standing 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 joined at each corner with a lap joint. The door pivots on a pair of brass hinges at the top right and bottom right corner. There is a keyhole in the center left side of the hood door. The interior front edge of the hood has a rotating latch that holds the hood in place when it is on the case.
The backboard is screwed into a rabbet on each back corner of the sides of the trunk. The boards that form the sides of the trunk extend to the height of the cove molding. A pair of blocks are screwed in place at the top of each side of the trunk (the topmost block is a later addition). The clock works rest on a seat board, or horizontal board immediately behind the dial. The seat board rests on the block that is joined to 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 front of the trunk is constructed of a rail above the door, and a vertical post at each side. Each post and side of the trunk are joined with a vertical support screwed to the interior front edge of the trunk. Each column fits into the ninety-degree opening where the front and side of the trunk are joined. 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 sides of the trunk extend down to the top of the base. The front and sides of the base are each joined to the post that forms the quarter-column at each front corner. The base molding is nailed to the front and sides of the base. The bottom of the case is constructed of a four-sided frame; the bottom board is nailed to the underside of this frame. Each ogee bracket foot is constructed of facing that is glued or nailed to the underside of the base molding. The interior of the case is varnished.
Dial: The brass and steel dial is square with an arched top. The center of the dial arch has a recessed moon dial painted with a seascape containing a sailboat in blues, greens, and brown; this scene is located behind two half circles on the dial arch that are engraved with the globe. Above the moon dial are Arabic numbers from one to twenty-nine in increments of five, with the last increment shortened to accommodate the lunar calendar. The middle of the square dial plate has a steel chapter ring, consisting of a ring of applied brass Arabic numerals from one to twelve, each inside an engraved circle. 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, steel seconds dial is applied above the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. A round, steel calendar dial is applied below the main arbor, with a hand pivoting around the center. The center and each corner of the dial plate have applied spandrels, or elaborately engraved, pierced panels.
The clock works (original) are accompanied by a pendulum, a chime (a long, metal tube) and two cylindrical weights.
Condition: Some veneer has broken off the interior of the hood door. Veneer has been re-glued to the front of the base. The feet are well worn and scratched. The pendulum, weights, and chime are separated from the clock works.
Status
On view
