Clock, Shelf

Object Name:

Clock, Shelf

Object ID:

1971.020.05

Creator:

French, David (1799-1827)Clockmaker

Place of Origin:

New Ipswich, NH

Date:

circa 1825

Description:

Shelf Clock. Made by David French (1799-1827), New Ipswich, NH; c. 1825. Mahogany and white pine; brass (movement); iron (dial); secondary wood white pine. Vertically oriented rectangular door above a projecting base. Projecting, ovolo-molded cornice, which is part of the door. Face of stiles, which flank central glazed pales in door, decorated with applied, split baluster colonnettes. Baluster turnings of ball, spool, wide ring and cylindrical types. Cornice is decorated with pendent composition balls and breaks forward over each colonnette. Corresponding breaks in base. Cylindrical turnings painted black; all other elements of door frame gilded. Two glazed panels in door; mirror below; clear glass above, backed with gilded paper, leaving circular reserve at center. Door fastened with brass spring catch. Round, painted iron dial, beneath clear glass reserve in upper door panel. Roman hour numerals are dart-shaped, steel hour and minute hands. A winding hole at each side of center. Three painted secondary dials in area enclosed by painted chapter ring; a second dial at top; a day-of-the-week dial at lower right; and a day-of-the-month dial at lower left. Primary and secondary dials all pierced in decorative patterns, with a star remaining inside seconds dial and moon-shaped voids in two lower dials. Gilded borders outlining dials and cut-out areas; star also gilded. "David Fren[ch] / [Ne]w-Ipswich" in black script on dial. Eight-day brass movement with strike and alarm mechanism. Sides, top and bottom of case mahogany. Door framework pine. Wood of turnings unidentified. Wood weight guides. Mirror backed with white pine, at top of which are handwritten instructions (in pencil) for winding and at the bottom of which is a horizontally oriented oval recess, backed with wood to allow clearance for pendulum bob. Pencil inscriptions on back of left door stile giving information re cleanings and/or repair work in 1919, 45, and 48. Iron hanger. Several nail holes in lower backboard. "D.K. Packard" stamped on central weight guide. Evidence of former yellow paint on door. Separately stored parts: pendulum bob, small lead weight, weight sheave, two rectangular weights (one lead and one cast iron).

Material:

Wood
Mahogany
Pine
Brass
Iron
Glass

Dimensions:

H-29.5 W-17.375 D-7 inches

Provenance:

The clock was part of the Donald K. Packard (1893-1974) Clock Collection. It was acquired by Packard on January 1, 1962, at Ed's Country Auction House, West Rindge, NH.

Credit Line:

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Donald K. Packard

People:

French, David (1799-1827), Packard, Donald (1893-1974)

Subjects:

Manufacturing