Clock, Tall Case

Object Name:

Clock, Tall Case

Object ID:

1972.089.003

Creator:

Edwards, Abraham (1761-1840) -- Clockmaker; Collins, James (1801-1882) -- Clockmaker

Place of Origin:

Ashby, MA (movement)/Goffstown, NH (case)

Date:

1800-1820

Description:

Tall Case Clock. Movement made by Abraham Edwards (1761-1840), Ashby, MA; 1800-1820. Materials: white pine, maple, mahogany; pewter (or lead); secondary wood white pine; assorted hardwoods (movement.). Tall or long case with arched hood decorated with applied, scrolled crest and three spired urn finials on plinths. Freestanding colonnettes, with entasis, at front corners, supporting cornice which is arched at center. No frieze. Glazed door having arched top and brass knob. No sidelights. Waist with cove molding at top and rectangular door with brass catch. Base with scotia molding at top and plinth. White painted wooden dial with arched top. Spandrels and center of arched top decorated with painted rosebuds in pink with green foliage. "A. Edwards" in black script below center of dial within green painted oval border. Black roman hour numerals; arabic minute numerals (on quarter hours only); no winding hole. Pewter (or lead) hour and minute hands, both pierced but differing in design. Back of dial painted red. Thirty-hour wooden movement with strike. Case pine decorated with mahogany graining. Crest, made of mahogany, also grained. Faint grooves simulating inlay. Cavetto molding of maple. Pencil inscription on inside of waist door, reading: "James Collins / Goffstown / N.H." Pencil inscription and paper label on back of dial giving information re cleanings and / or repair work in 1883 and 1932: "Repaired by / CHARLES E. JACOBS / 46 Lake St., Nashua, N.H. / 2-1932", and "Cleaned / __ & oiled / Nov 14 1883 [or 1863] / [illeg. initials]". No bottom boards in case. Several nail holes in backboard.
Separately stored parts: two sheet iron canister weights, pendulum.

Material:

Wood
Metal
Brass
Pewter

Dimensions:

H-85.625 W-19.5 D-10.5 inches

Provenance:

Acquired by donor in 1953 at auction from estate of Aldon E. and Nellie S. Cummings, Hudson, NH; clock has a 1932 repair label from nearby Nashua, N.H. Part of a large clock (and related materials) collection including not only clocks made in New Hampshire, but also several made elsewhere, acquired in New Hampshire by the donor (Charles S. Parsons, 1904-1988) and probably used here.

Credit Line:

Gift of Charles S. Parsons

People:

Edwards, Abraham (1761-1840), Jacobs, Charles E. (c. 1868- ), Parsons, Charles S. (1904-1988), Collins, James (1801-1882)