Clock, Shelf

Object Name:

Clock, Shelf

Object ID:

1972.089.036

Creator:

Collins, James (1801-1882)Clockmaker

Place of Origin:

Goffstown, NH

Date:

circa 1830

Description:

Shelf Clock. Made by James Collins (1801-1882), Goffstown, NH; c. 1830. Materials: white pine, maple, and unidentified wood; iron (dial); glass; and brass (movement). Front consisting of a vertically oriented rectangular door, having outer framework decorated on face with applied, split balusters and applied projecting corner blocks. Baluster turnings of vase, spindle, and wide ring types. Groups of turnings alternatingly gilded and painted black. Corner blocks painted black. Remainder of visible surface of case unpainted. A stamped brass rosette applied to the front of each corner block. Two panels in glazed door -- decorated glass above and mirror below. Mirror is almost twice as high as upper panel. Circular reserve of clear glass at center of upper panel with surrounding translucent reverse-painted floral design in blue, deep pink, green and gold, backed with metallic foil, on an opaque black ground. Door fastened with steel hook, set low on case. Round painted iron dial, beneath clear glass reserve in upper door panel. Roman hour numerals and pierced steel hour and minute hands matching in design. A winding hole above and to left of center. Eight-day brass movement. Stiles and rails of door stained pine; sides, top an bottom of case maple; wood of turnings and corner blocks unidentified. Iron hanger. Several nail holes in backboard. Both glass panels backed with wood. "Jos Collins / Goffstown" written in large scale on lower backing board, in early 19th-century script. Several smaller scale pencil inscriptions on same backing board and on inner surface of case backboard giving names and dates of cleanings and/or repairs between 1850 and 1909 including one in Milford, N.H. in 1892 and one by Asa Burnham. Bottom reduced in thickness at right side to allow for swing of pendulum. Separately stored parts: pendulum bob, cast iron weight (rectangular).

Material:

Wood
Maple
Pine
Brass
Iron
Glass

Dimensions:

H-30.625 W-14.625 D-4.375 inches

Provenance:

Clock has the name of Goffstown, NH, clockmaker, James Collins (1801-1882), inscribed on the backboard. This clock given to donor in 1967 by Albert L. Partridge of Watertown, MA. Part of a large clock collection (and related materials) including not only clocks made in N.H., 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:

Burnham, Asa, Collins, James (1801-1882), Parsons, Charles S. (1904-1988)

Subjects:

Manufacturing