Clock, Shelf

Object Name:

Clock, Shelf

Object ID:

1977.007.07

Creator:

Pratt, Daniel (1797-1871)Clockmaker

Place of Origin:

Reading, MA

Date:

circa 1838

Description:

Shelf Clock. "Mirror" type. Mahogany, pine, spruce, tulip poplar (dial); secondary woods white pine and unidentified wood; assorted hardwoods (movement); tin plate. Vertical rectangular door with two glazed panels, clear glass above and mirror below. Upper panel 9.5" high, lower panel 13.5". Case with flat base and cornice, with gallery at front and sides and plinths at ends of front gallery. Front gallery has upper edge flat at center and curving down at ends. Door flanked by angular pilasters triangular in cross-section and extending between applied corer blocks. Steel lock; no escutcheon. 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 wreath surrounding central hand hole and spandrel decoration composed of teardrop-shaped elements. Three winding holes with brass grommets. Terry-type 30-hour wooden movement with alarm and strike. Triangular pilasters of pine. Front gallery probably spruce. Remainder of visible surface of case veneered with mahogany. Dial probably tulip poplar. Secondary wood on sides of case unidentified. Iron wire for hanging at top of backboard. Numerous nail holes in backboard. Bell and weight sheaves projecting through top of clock. Large printed label glued to inner surface of lower backboard, reading in part: "Improved / Clocks, / Manufactured and Sold, / Wholesale and Retail, by / Daniel Pratt,Jr. / Reading, Mass. / 1838." Tin plate covers for weights sheaves, painted black on outside. Backboard circular sawn. Evidence of an earlier coat of off-white paint.
Separately stored parts: alarm dial, pendulum bob, winding key, bell, three cast iron weights (cylindrical), miscellaneous sheaves and other parts.

Material:

Wood
Mahogany
Pine
Glass
Metal
Tin

Dimensions:

H-31.125 W-16.75 D-5 inches

Provenance:

Found by donor, Foster Sturtevant (1898-1979), in attic of camp (Bemis Camps) which he purchased in 1940 in South Chatham, NH. Former owner, Pearl B. Bemis (1876-1949), had furnished camp with antiques, presumably acquired locally.

Credit Line:

Gift of Foster E. Sturtevant

People:

Pratt, Daniel (1797-1871), Bemis, Pearl B. (1876-1949), Sturtevant, Foster E. (1898-1979)