Clock, Wall

Object Name:

Clock, Wall

Object ID:

1972.089.058

Creator:

Hasham, Stephen (1764-1861)Clockmaker

Place of Origin:

Charlestown, NH

Date:

1810-1830

Description:

Wall Clock. Attributed to Stephen Hasham, (1764-1861), Charlestown, NH. Two-dial, within-the-wall clock of banjo form. Materials: cherry and mahogany; brass (movement); iron (dials); secondary woods white pine and birch. Dials are attached to either side of an octagonal birch framework which is truncated at the bottom and 4" deep. A flat, iron bezel fits over each dial and is screwed to the framework. the bezels are painted with a reciprocal serrated pattern in gold and black. No dial doors. Cherry throat section and lower door create the semblance of a banjo-type wall clock on one side only. Both throat and door have raised panels the bevels of which are veneered with mahogany. Steel lock on door.
Two round painted iron dials with roman hour numerals and steel hour and minute hands, none of the four matching in design. winding hole on one dial only, below and to right of center. Small hole at top of same dial for pendulum adjustment. Eight-day brass movement.
Two brass hangers at front and back of octagonal framework's upper surface. Clock presently supported in modern wooden and masonite standard. "Hatch" printed in pencil on the back of each dial, together with other illegible inscriptions. Dials differ in style and fineness of lettering. Decoration of bezels differs in scale of design and coloring. Central gear welded to one of hour hands. Pencil inscription in early handwriting on pine framing member reading: "Seat (?) Board".
Separately stored parts: two winding keys; screws; large cast iron weight (rectangular); pendulum.

Material:

Wood
Cherry
Mahogany
Metal
Brass
Iron

Dimensions:

H-36.125 W-12.625 inches

Provenance:

Clock said to have come from a house in Charlestown, NH, in which Stephen Hasham (1764-1861), clockmaker, once lived. Clocks built into the walls of several houses in that town have traditionally been assigned to Hasham. Acquired by donor, Charles S. Parsons (1904-1988), in 1972 from Harold G. Benson (1905-1985), of Agawam, MA. Mr. Benson made the stand. Part of a large clock collection (and related materials) including not only clocks made in NH, but also several made elsewhere, acquired in NH, by the donor and probably used here.

Credit Line:

Gift of Charles S. Parsons

People:

Hasham, Stephen (1764-1861), Benson, Harold G. (1905-1985), Parsons, Charles S. (1904-1988)