Clock, Shelf

Object Name:

Clock, Shelf

Object ID:

1972.089.030

Creator:

Dutton, David (1792-1882)Clockmaker

Place of Origin:

Mont Vernon, NH

Date:

circa 1840

Description:

Shelf Clock. Attributed to David Dutton (1792-1882), Mont Vernon, NH; c. 1840. Vertically oriented rectangular door extending between cove-molded cornice and plinth and flanked by angular pilasters triangular in cross-section. Drawer at front of plinth, 11" wide. Door and drawer each have a wooden knob pull. Two glazed panels in door - clear glass above and mirror below. Upper panel 10" in height, lower panel 13 1/2". Door secured with steel lock having a lozenge-shaped bone escutcheon; no key. 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 borders surrounding center of dial and stylized foliate designs in spandrels composed largely of tear-drop shaped elements. Two winding holes with brass grommets below center of dial. Thirty-hour, Terry-type wooden movement with strike. Triangular pilasters and knobs solid mahogany. Remainder of visible surface of case veneered with mahogany. Dial probably tulip poplar. Several nail holes in backboard. Weight sheaves extending through top of case. Fragment of label, including element of printed border without lettering, under mounting of gong. Mirror backed with pine board on which is pencil inscription reading: "850/COR (K?)". Inside of door stained red. "R" written in chalk on inner surface of backboard. One wood cover over both sheaves. Separately stored parts: pendulum bob, winding key, two cast iron weights (cylindrical).

Material:

Wood
Mahogany
Poplar
Pine
Bone
Brass
Iron
Glass

Dimensions:

H-35.75 W-19.5 D-6.875 inches

Provenance:

Clock with fragment of maker's label identical to one of David Dutton, Mont Vernon, NH. It may be that Dutton was the assembler of the clock, using a movement from Connecticut.
Bought by donor in 1954 for $8, from Harold A. Todd (1895-1973) of New Boston, NH.
Part of a large clock collection including not only clocks made in NH, but also several made elsewhere, acquired in NH by the donor, Charles S. Parsons (1904-1988), and probably used here.

Credit Line:

Gift of Charles S. Parsons

People:

Dutton, David (1792-1882), Todd, Harold A. (1895-1973), Parsons, Charles S. (1904-1988)

Subjects:

Manufacturing