Clock, Shelf

Object Name:

Clock, Shelf

Object ID:

1972.089.057

Creator:

Nutter, John D. (1812-1890)Clockmaker

Place of Origin:

Mont Vernon, NH

Date:

circa 1840

Description:

Shelf Clock. Made by John D. Nutter (1812-1890), Mont Vernon, NH; c. 1840. Beveled case. Vertically oriented, rectangular door with two glazed panels--clear glass above and reverse painted scene below. Lower panel slightly greater in height. Front of case, surrounding recessed door, beveled, with fillet at all four outer edges. Mountainous landscape depicted in lower panel, with tree in right foreground; executed in shades of blue, green, yellow, brown, and pink. Door fastened with brass catch. Square, painted wooden dial, beneath upper glass panel, with roman hour numerals and steel hour and minute hands matching in design. Painted, gilt decoration, partly in relief, including plain borders surrounding center of dial and stylized foliage design in spandrels, composed largely of teardrop-shaped elements and dots. Two winding holes with brass grommets below center of dial. Terry-type, thirty-hour wooden movement with strike. Case veneered on front and sides. Top and bottom of pine. Top painted black. Weight sheaves projecting into top of case. One large hole at center top of backboard used in hanging clock. Several nail holes in lower backboard. Dial probably tulip poplar. Large printed label glued to inner surface of lower backboard, reading in part: "IMPROVED CLOCKS / Made & Sold by / JOHN D. NUTTER, / MONT-VERNON, N. H.". Pencil inscription on label giving names and dates of cleaning and or repairs for 1854 (?) and 1874 (?). Mirror backed with a circular sawn white pine board having beveled edges. Separately stored parts: winding key, pendulum bob, two cast iron weights (cylindrical).

Material:

Wood
Mahogany
Glass
Metal
Brass

Dimensions:

H-26.5 W-15.625 D-4.75 inches

Provenance:

Clock with maker's label of John D. Nutter (1812-1890), Mont Vernon, NH. Movement and dial probably from Connecticut. Acquired by donor Charles S. Parsons, 1904-1988) in 1954 from Walter E. Billings, Andover, MA. 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:

Nutter, John D. (1812-1890), Parsons, Charles S. (1904-1988)

Subjects:

Manufacturing