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Clock, Tall Case

Object Name:
Clock, Tall Case
Object ID:
1972.089.039
Creator:
Critchet, James (1761-1849) -- Clockmaker
Place of Origin:
Candia, NH
Date:
1800-1820
Description:
Tall Case Clock. Movement made by James Critchet (1761-1849), Candia, NH; 1800-1820. Pine case, stained to resemble mahogany. Arched hood decorated with applied open fretwork crest and with three plinths, two with brass finials which appear to be original and a third finial which looks to be a replacement. The plinths are reeded and capped. There are arched and glazed sidelights. There are no columns on the hood, but the facing edges of the two sideboards are reeded. Glazed hood door has a screw as a door pull. Concave molding at cornice and at base of hood. Beading around glazing. Plain rectangular door on waist; no door pull. Concave molding at base of waist. The waist also has no columns but edges of the sideboards are beaded. There is no indication that there ever was a lock on the waist door. There are no written inscriptions inside the case. There is a printed paper label on the backboard: "George F. Smith / Fine Watch and Clock / Repairing / CANDIA, - - N.H."; in pencil written on the label is "Feb. 8, 1900". Painted wooden face, with arch top. Painting within arch includes "Lion and unicorn" crest, and scrolls following shape of arch. Dial has painted roman numerals I through XII; arabic numerals 5 through 60 (by 5s) above the roman numerals. Small dial below the XII marked 10 through 60 by 10s. Fully painted spandrels. Face has two winding holes below center. Hands are wooden; hour and minute hand have diamond-shaped cut-outs. Movement is wooden (cherry and maple), with brass bushings, iron lifting pieces, and wire pinions. The pendulum is lead, with a wooden face.The bottom is plain and rectangular with bracket feet and decoratively carved skirt. The case is of pegged construction. There is no bottom board to the case. Several hand-wrought nails are visible on the bottom.
Material:
Wood
Glass
Metal
Brass
Iron
Dimensions:
H-88.25 W-21.25 D-10.875 inches
Provenance:
The clock was made by James Critchet (1761-1849), Candia, NH. According to family history, the case was made from a tree cut behind the clockmaker's house. The clock remained in the Critchett family until June 11, 1966, when the maker's great-grandson, Benjamin Critchett (1884-1969), sold it to clock collector and donor, Charles S. Parsons.
Credit Line:
Gift of Charles S. Parsons
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