Clock, Shelf

Object Name:

Clock, Shelf

Object ID:

1972.089.007

Creator:

Forestville Manufacturing CompanyClockmaker

Place of Origin:

Bristol, CT

Date:

1847-1849

Description:

Shelf Clock. Made by Forestville Manufacturing Company, Bristol, CT; 1847-1849. Ogee type. Materials: Rosewood, mahogany, tulip poplar (dial); brass (movement); secondary wood white pine. Vertically oriented, rectangular door with two glazed panels; clear glass above and mirror below. Lower panel slightly greater in height. Front of case, surrounding door, molded in shallow ogee curve with convex molding along all 4 outer edges. Door has concave molded stiles and rails and fastens with a brass catch. Square painted wooden dial, beneath upper glass panel, with roman hour numerals and steel hour and minute hands matching in design. Has both brass alarm dial and third steel hand, differing in design from other two. Painted spandrel decoration, consisting of floral sprays, executed in blue, white and green. Three winding holes with brass grommets below center of dial. Thirty-hour brass movement, stamped, "FORESTVILLE. M.F.G. Co / BRISTOL. Ct / U.S.A." with strike and alarm. Case veneered on front and sides with rosewood and mahogany. Top and bottom of pine. Top painted black. Weight sheaves projecting into top of case. Several nailholes in backboard. Dial probably tulip poplar. Large printed label glued to inner surface of lower backboard, reading in part: "PATENT BRASS CLOCKS; / MADE AND SOLD BY THE / FORESTVILLE MANUFACT'G COMPANY. / J. C. BROWN, / BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT.". Above printing on label is woodcut view of a factory labelled "FORES[TVILLE] MANUFACTURING COMPANY". Mirror backed with cardboard. Pencil inscriptions on back of door rail and back of dial, giving names and dates of cleanings and/or repairs in 1857 and 1883, former by R. Morrill (Reuben Morrill of Concord, N.H.). Circular saw marks evident in pine elements. Several holes in bottom of case (function undetermined, but probably an alteration to extend weights). Separately stored pieces: pendulum bob, winding key.

Material:

Wood
Rosewood
Mahogany
Glass

Dimensions:

H-26 W-15.625 D-4.375 inches

Provenance:

This clock has the mark of Forestville Manufacturing Co., J. C. Brown, Bristol, CT, and also has a repair/cleaning mark from Reuben Morrill (1825-1879) of Concord, NH. Acquired by donor (Charles S. Parsons, 1904-1988) in Pembroke, NH, 1952-1955. 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 and probably used here.

Credit Line:

Gift of Charles S. Parsons

People:

Morrill, Reuben (1825-1879), Parsons, Charles S. (1904-1988), Geer, Elihu (1817-1887), Brown, Jonathan C. (1807-1872)

Subjects:

Manufacturing