Clock, Tall Case

Object Name:

Clock, Tall Case

Object ID:

1972.089.041

Creator:

Hutchins, Abel (1763-1853) -- Clockmaker; Young, David (1746-1836) -- Cabinetmaker

Place of Origin:

Concord, NH (movement) / Hopkinton, NH (case)

Date:

circa 1810

Description:

Tall Case Clock. Movement made by Abel Hutchins (1763-1853), Concord, NH; Case attributed to David Young (1746-1836), Hopkinton, NH; c.1810. Materials: Birch, cherry, maple; wax; unidentified wood inlay; brass; iron (dial); secondary wood white pine. Arched hood decorated with applied open fretwork crest and three brass spired ball finials on reeded plinths. Freestanding grooved colonnettes at front corners supporting cornice which is arched at center. Colonnettes have brass capitals and bases. No frieze. Glazed door having arched top and elaborate brass catch with turned handle and rectangular escutcheon with scalloped terminals. Rectangular sidelights. Waist with cove molding at top; reeded quarter-columns at front corners, with brass capitals and bases; and a rectangular door with applied molding at edges, steel lock and brass escutcheon. Base with scotia molded top and straight bracket feet. A rectangular panel formed of dark line wax stringing decorates front of waist door. Inlaid maple bands, of curly grain, above and below quarter-columns, flanking hood door and at top and side edges of base. A multicolored geometric band inlaid at bottom of base just above front feet.
Painted iron dial with arched top. A columnar ornament painted at center of arched top in red and gold, surrounded by pendent foliage in yellow green and gold. A red and gold urn-shaped ornament in each spandrel with similar pendent foliage. The gilt decoration is partly in relief. "Abel Hutchins, / CONCORD" in black lettering, below center of dial. Arabic hour and minute numerals; second dial above center; calendar aperture below, with surrounding gild border. A winding hole with brass grommet at each side of center. Pierced, steel hour and minute hands differing slightly in design. Eight-day brass movement with half-hour strike.
Blocks above quarter-columns cherry; banding maple; remainder of primary wood, stained birch. Has been refinished. No bottom boards in case. Inner surface of hood door stained. Front of base constructed from two pieces. "Harris" scratched on reverse of dial. Figure "54" incised on top of the pendulum bridge (or suspension cock). Pencil inscription and typed label on inner surface of waist door, giving names and dates re cleanings and or repairs in 1854 (?) and 1931. Additional modern pencil inscriptions. Glued to inner surface of backboard is a money order dated at "Boston, Aug 6, 1924" from F. J. Beal (?) to W. L. Knowles for $159.00, "for Clock" (latter added in same hand).
Separately stored parts: winding key, pendulum.

Material:

Wood
Birch
Glass
Metal
Brass
Iron

Dimensions:

H-89 W-21.125 D-10.625 inches

Provenance:

Clock acquired by donor in 1961 from J. Robert Lynch & William Graham, antique dealers in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Part of a large clock collection (and related materials) including not only clocks made in N.H., but also several made elsewhere, acquired in N.H. by the donor (Charles S. Parsons, 1904-1988) and probably used here.

Credit Line:

Gift of Charles S. Parsons

People:

Hutchins, Abel (1763-1853), Young, David (1746-1836), Parsons, Charles S. (1904-1988)