Clock, Shelf

Object Name:

Clock, Shelf

Object ID:

1972.089.046

Creator:

Forbes & Tucker

Place of Origin:

Concord, NH

Date:

1841

Description:

Shelf Clock. Made by Forbes & Tucker, Concord, NH; 1841. Materials: mahogany and birdseye-maple; tulip poplar (dial); secondary woods white pine and assorted hardwoods (movement). Vertically oriented rectangular door with two glazed panels -- clear glass above and mirror below. Upper panel 9.625" in height, lower panel 13.5". Case with flat base and cornice, having birdseye-maple scrolled gallery at front; mahogany plinths at end of gallery. Door flanked by birdseye-maple angular pilasters triangular in cross-section and extending between applied corner blocks. Brass catch securing door. Square painted wooden dial, beneath upper glass panel, with roman hour numerals and pierced steel hour and minute hands, matching in design. Painted gilt decoration partly in relief, including plain border surrounding center of dial and spandrel decoration composed of teardrop-shaped elements. Two winding holes, with brass grommets, below center of dial. Terry-type, thirty-hour wooden movement with strike. Gallery and triangular pilasters maple. Remainder of case veneered with mahogany. Dial probably tulip poplar. Wood used for movement plate is figured, probably birdseye maple. Several nail holes in backboard. Large printed label glued to inner surface of lower backboard, reading in part "NEW CLOCK / FACTORY / 'TIME FLIES.' / IMPROVED / BRASS BUSHED / CLOCK / MANUFACTURED AND SOLD WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, BY / FORBES & TUCKER, / CONCORD, N. H. / 1841". Label printed by Asa McFarland of Concord, N.H. Mirror backed with white pine. Several pencil inscriptions on inner surface of door giving names and dates of cleanings and/or repairs in 1880, 1899, 1908 (?), etc. Separately stored parts: pendulum bob, two cast iron weights (cylindrical).

Material:

Wood

Mahogany
Maple
Poplar
Pine
Brass
Iron
Glass

Dimensions:

H-31.125 W-15.75 D-5 inches

Provenance:

Clock with label of Forbes & Tucker, 1841, Concord, NH. The two were partners briefly (1840-1841), and purchased movements from the Connecticut clockmaking firm of Boardman & Wells; Forbes and Tucker then assembled and marketed the clocks. Clock purchased by donor in 1954 from Mary Silver of Windham, N.H., at a cost of $4.00. Part of a large clock collection and related materials made in NH, 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:

Forbes, Wells (1812-1880), Tucker, John, McFarland, Asa (1804-1879), Parsons, Charles S. (1904-1988)

Subjects:

Manufacturing