Clock, Mirror

Object Name:

Clock, Mirror

Object ID:

1972.089.094

Creator:

Dutton, David (1792-1882)Clockmaker

Place of Origin:

Mont Vernon, NH

Date:

circa 1835

Description:

Mirror Clock. Made by David Dutton (1792-1882), Mont Vernon, NH; c. 1835. Materials: mahogany; maple; and unidentified wood; mother-of-pearl; tulip poplar (dial); secondary wood white pine and assorted hardwoods (movement). Vertically oriented, rectangular door extending between entablature, with flared cornice, and plinth; door flanked by applied split balusters. Front of plinth veneered with a rectangular panel of birds-eye maple, with surrounding mahogany band. Balusters, with vase, ring, and cylindrical turnings, are gilded. Two glazed panels in door, equal in height -- clear glass above and mirror below. Door secured with a steel lock with lozenge-shaped, mother-of-pearl escutcheon and brass key. Square painted wooden dial, beneath upper glass panel, with roman hour numerals and three pierced steel hands -- the hour and minute hands matching in design, the alarm hand differing. Painted gilt decoration, partly in relief, including a border of dots and pendent/tear-drop shaped elements surrounding center of dial and scroll designs in spandrels. Three winding holes with brass grommets. Boardman-type 30-hour wooden movement e wit strike and alarm. Wood of turnings unidentified. Remainder of visible surface of case veneered. Dial probably tulip poplar. Outer surface of backboard unplaned. Several nail holes in lower backboard. Weight sheaves and one bell extending through top of case. Large printed label glued to inner surface of lower backboard, reading in part: "Patent / Clocks, / Manufactured & sold / By / David Dutton, / Mont-Vernon, N.H.". Printed at the ''Cabinet Office," Amherst, N.H. Inside of case partly stained red. Separately stored parts: pendulum bob, winding key, three cast iron weights (rectangular).

Material:

Wood
Mahogany
Maple
Poplar
Pine
Mother-of-Pearl
Brass
Iron
Glass

Dimensions:

H-37.25 W-20.375 D-7.25 inches

Provenance:

Clock with maker's label of David Dutton (1792-1882), Mont Vernon, NH. Acquired by donor -- Charles S. Parsons (1904-1988) -- (at a cost of $100) in 1972 from clock collector/restorer, Herschel B. Burt, Exeter, NH. 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:

Burt, Herschel B. (1927-2000), Dutton, David (1792-1882), Parsons, Charles S. (1904-1988)

Subjects:

Manufacturing