Clock, Shelf

Object Name:

Clock, Shelf

Object ID:

1972.089.018

Creator:

Seth Thomas Clock CompanyClockmaker

Place of Origin:

Thomaston, CT

Date:

circa 1870

Description:

Shelf Clock. Materials: rosewood, pine, and unidentified wood; zinc (dial); brass (movement). Vertically oriented rectangular door with two glazed panels -- clear glass above and mirror below. Upper panel almost twice as high as lower panel. Case with ogee molded cornice and base plain at front. Freestanding colonnettes flanking door, supported on ogee molded pedestals which project 1" beyond base. Cornice breaks out over each colonnette. Door projects slightly and has beveled stiles and outer rails. Projecting glass pendulum-viewhole at center of base with brass bezel. Ends of case have ogee molded bases integral with pedestals. Door secured with steel catch having pewter knob.
Square painted zinc dial, beneath upper glass panel. Roman hour numerals; steel hour and minute hands differing in design, of "S" and "T" pattern; two winding hoes below center of dial; brass alarm dial. Eight-day brass movement with stripe and alarm. Impressed mark on lyre-shaped front plate: "S. THOMAS / PLYMOUTH CONN / USA".
Turned colonnettes of unidentified wood painted with red and black rosewood graining. Remainder of case veneered with rosewood. Quarter-round molding surrounding each glass panel gilded. Large printed label glued to inner surface of lower backboard, reading in part: "SETH THOMAS, / THOMASTON, / CONNECTICUT.". Mirror backed with heavy paper on which are pasted two printed labels reading: "Cleaned and Repaired / by E. L. Fisher, / New Boston, N.H." and dated 1875 and 1878. Additional pencil inscriptions on mirror backing and outer surface of backboard giving names and dates re. cleanings and/or repairs until 1901 including one by "W. C. Butterfield / New Boston" (William C. Butterfield).
Frame of door painted black on inside. Top painted black. Separately stored parts: pendulum bob, two winding keys, pendulum rod.

Material:

Wood
Rosewood
Glass
Metal
Brass
Zinc

Dimensions:

H-16.125 W-10.875 D-4.875 inches

Provenance:

Clock made by the Seth Thomas Clock Co., Thomaston, Ct. Clock has clean/repair inscriptions by E. L. Fisher and by William C. Butterfield (1841-), both of New Boston, N.H.
Clock is 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:

Fisher, E. L., Butterfield, William C. (1841- ), Parsons, Charles S. (1904-1988)